AAERT PRACTICE TEST QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS
ACTION
a lawsuit
ADVERSE WITNESS
a witness whose testimony is prejudicial to the case of the party who called him
AFFIDAVIT
written statement of facts made under oath
AFFIANT
signs an affidavit
AFFIRM
to declare solemnly and formally
AGGRAVATING CIRCUMSTANCES
considerations which increase a sentence imposed
MITIGATING CIRCUMSTANCES
considerations which decrease a sentence imposed
ALLOCUTION
formal statement by convicted defendant as to whether there is any reason why judgment should not
be rendered against him
AMENDMENT
change/correction
ANSWER
response by defendant denying plaintiff's complaint
ARBITRATION
dispute mediation by impartial 3rd party
ARRAIGNMENT
bringing an accused person to court to plead a criminal charge
ARREST
restraint and detention of a person suspected of a crime
BAIL
,amount of money deposited as form of collateral to guarantee that a person charged with a crime will
appear in court when scheduled
BENCH CONFERENCE
a discussion between attorneys and the judge outside the hearing of courtroom
BENCH WARRANT
authority to find and to bring into court someone who has failed to appear
BEYOND REASONABLE DOUBT
standard for conviction in a criminal trial
PREPONDERANCE OF EVIDENCE
standard for winning a civil matter
BIRFUCATION
trial of certain issues separately
BLACK LETTER LAW
basic principles of law
BLACKS LAW DICTIONARY
standard legal reference work
BRIEFS
papers submitted by attorneys
BURDEN OF PROOF
obligation to provide affirmative proof on an issue
STANDARD OF EVIDENCE
how much evidence (or what type) is needed to bear that burden
CALENDAR
court schedule
CASE IN CHIEF
primary presentation of evidence by a party
CASE LAW
printed decisions and opinions of appellate jurisdictions
CAUSE OF ACTION
,situations causing a lawsuit
WRIT OF CERTIORARI
appellate court order granting a hearing to an appellant
CHAIN OF CUSTODY
record showing proper maintenance of real evidence
CHALLENGE
objection to having someone serve as a juror
CHAMBERS
judges office within a court house
CHARGE TO THE JURY
instructions from the judge concerning the law which governs a case
CHATTEL
an article of personal or movable property
CIRCUIT COURT OF APPEAL
federal appellate level immediately below the Supreme Court
CLASS ACTION
suit joined in by a group of people who share a common interest in matter
CLOSING STATEMENT
attorneys final statement
CLOUD ON TITLE
claim or lien which impairs an owners otherwise free right to use property
QUIET TITLE
remove a claim or lien
CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS
federal regulatory agency rules and regulations which implement federal law
COLLATERAL ESTOPPEL
a bar to re litigating an issue already been tried between the same parties
COLLOQUY
any formal conference, conversation or discussion
, COMMON LAW
customary law
COMPLAINT
plaintiff's initial pleading which a defendant initially answers
CONCURRENT SENTENCES
2 or more sentences served at the same time
CONFLICT OF INTEREST
conflict between the private interests an public obligations
CONFRONT ACCUSERS
right of a person accused of a crime to face those making accusations
CONSECUTIVE SENTENCES
2 or more sentences which must be served one after the other
CONTEMPT
willfully disobeying a court order
COUNTER CLAIM
defendant's claim against plaintiff
COURT MINUTES
summary record of events in a case
CROSS EXAMINATION
questions by an opposing party after the side calling the witness has examined
DEADLOCKED
jury is unable to agree on a verdict
DECLARANT
having an interest in a matter who makes an unsworn statement
DECLARATION
unsworn statement by one having interest in a matter
DEFENDANT
person of whom a lawsuit is filed
ANSWERS
ACTION
a lawsuit
ADVERSE WITNESS
a witness whose testimony is prejudicial to the case of the party who called him
AFFIDAVIT
written statement of facts made under oath
AFFIANT
signs an affidavit
AFFIRM
to declare solemnly and formally
AGGRAVATING CIRCUMSTANCES
considerations which increase a sentence imposed
MITIGATING CIRCUMSTANCES
considerations which decrease a sentence imposed
ALLOCUTION
formal statement by convicted defendant as to whether there is any reason why judgment should not
be rendered against him
AMENDMENT
change/correction
ANSWER
response by defendant denying plaintiff's complaint
ARBITRATION
dispute mediation by impartial 3rd party
ARRAIGNMENT
bringing an accused person to court to plead a criminal charge
ARREST
restraint and detention of a person suspected of a crime
BAIL
,amount of money deposited as form of collateral to guarantee that a person charged with a crime will
appear in court when scheduled
BENCH CONFERENCE
a discussion between attorneys and the judge outside the hearing of courtroom
BENCH WARRANT
authority to find and to bring into court someone who has failed to appear
BEYOND REASONABLE DOUBT
standard for conviction in a criminal trial
PREPONDERANCE OF EVIDENCE
standard for winning a civil matter
BIRFUCATION
trial of certain issues separately
BLACK LETTER LAW
basic principles of law
BLACKS LAW DICTIONARY
standard legal reference work
BRIEFS
papers submitted by attorneys
BURDEN OF PROOF
obligation to provide affirmative proof on an issue
STANDARD OF EVIDENCE
how much evidence (or what type) is needed to bear that burden
CALENDAR
court schedule
CASE IN CHIEF
primary presentation of evidence by a party
CASE LAW
printed decisions and opinions of appellate jurisdictions
CAUSE OF ACTION
,situations causing a lawsuit
WRIT OF CERTIORARI
appellate court order granting a hearing to an appellant
CHAIN OF CUSTODY
record showing proper maintenance of real evidence
CHALLENGE
objection to having someone serve as a juror
CHAMBERS
judges office within a court house
CHARGE TO THE JURY
instructions from the judge concerning the law which governs a case
CHATTEL
an article of personal or movable property
CIRCUIT COURT OF APPEAL
federal appellate level immediately below the Supreme Court
CLASS ACTION
suit joined in by a group of people who share a common interest in matter
CLOSING STATEMENT
attorneys final statement
CLOUD ON TITLE
claim or lien which impairs an owners otherwise free right to use property
QUIET TITLE
remove a claim or lien
CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS
federal regulatory agency rules and regulations which implement federal law
COLLATERAL ESTOPPEL
a bar to re litigating an issue already been tried between the same parties
COLLOQUY
any formal conference, conversation or discussion
, COMMON LAW
customary law
COMPLAINT
plaintiff's initial pleading which a defendant initially answers
CONCURRENT SENTENCES
2 or more sentences served at the same time
CONFLICT OF INTEREST
conflict between the private interests an public obligations
CONFRONT ACCUSERS
right of a person accused of a crime to face those making accusations
CONSECUTIVE SENTENCES
2 or more sentences which must be served one after the other
CONTEMPT
willfully disobeying a court order
COUNTER CLAIM
defendant's claim against plaintiff
COURT MINUTES
summary record of events in a case
CROSS EXAMINATION
questions by an opposing party after the side calling the witness has examined
DEADLOCKED
jury is unable to agree on a verdict
DECLARANT
having an interest in a matter who makes an unsworn statement
DECLARATION
unsworn statement by one having interest in a matter
DEFENDANT
person of whom a lawsuit is filed
