Chapter 15

the study of law

a system of law based on precedent and customs

a ruling that is used as the basis for a judicial decision in a later, similar case

a law written by a legislative branch

a person or party filing a lawsuit

an individual or group being sued or changed with a crime

a serious crime such as murder, rape, kidnapping, or robbery

a relatively minor offense such as vandalism or stealing inexpensive items

a legal action in which a person or group sues to collect damages for some harm that is done

the copying or stealing of another person's words and ideas and passing them off as your own

wrongful acts for which an injured party has the right to sue

the practice of using earlier judicial rulings as a basis for deciding cases

a court order that requires police to bring a prisoner to court to explain why they are holding the person

a law that punishes a person accused of a crime without a trial or a fair hearing in court

a law that would allow a person to be punished for an action that was not against the law when it was committed

procedures established by law and guaranteed by the constitution

putting someone on trail for a crime of which he or she was previously acquitted

a group of citizens that decides whether there is sufficient evidence to accuse someone of a crime

a sum of money used as a security deposit to ensure that an accused person returns for his or her trial