courthouse
Where trials happen
A courthouse is a building where courts of law convene and legal proceedings take place.
County courthouses often serve as seats of local government, housing administrative offices alongside courtrooms.
The courthouse square—the public space around such a building—traditionally functions as a civic center in American towns: They held the rally on the courthouse steps.
Legal decision-making body
- judgeOne who decides
- prosecutionPursuing legal charges
- defenseProtection against harm
- testimonySworn statement as evidence
witness · evidence · defendant · plaintiff · cross-examination · arraignment · indictment · plea
Firmly held belief
- acquittalFormal clearing of charges
- guiltyResponsible for wrongdoing
- innocentFree from moral wrong
- sentenceComplete thought, grammatically
sentencing · appeal · overturn · unanimous · foreperson · judgment · retrial · dismissal
Circular domed chamber
- facadeDeceptive outward appearance
- stepsSequential actions in process
- columnsUpright structural shafts
- lobbyEntryway or influence-seeking
chambers · security · gallery · bench · marble · portico · entrance · annex
Legal dispute process
- caseContainer or instance
- filingStoring documents systematically
- motionChange in position
- hearingPerceiving sound waves
proceeding · statute · jurisdiction · docket · summons · deposition · discovery · brief
Notable point of reference
- preservationMaintaining something's condition
- restorationReturning something to condition
- neoclassicalReviving ancient aesthetic principles
- VictorianOf a prim era
colonial · registry · heritage · monument · architecture · centennial · legacy · plaque
jury
Legal decision-making body
- judgeOne who decides
- prosecutionPursuing legal charges
- defenseProtection against harm
testimony · witness · evidence · defendant · plaintiff · cross-examination · arraignment · indictment · plea · bailiff
conviction
Firmly held belief
sentence · sentencing · appeal · overturn · unanimous · foreperson · judgment · retrial · dismissal · ruling
rotunda
Circular domed chamber
- facadeDeceptive outward appearance
- stepsSequential actions in process
- columnsUpright structural shafts
lobby · chambers · security · gallery · bench · marble · portico · entrance · annex
litigation
Legal dispute process
hearing · proceeding · statute · jurisdiction · docket · summons · deposition · discovery · brief · ruling
landmark
Notable point of reference
- preservationMaintaining something's condition
- restorationReturning something to condition
- neoclassicalReviving ancient aesthetic principles
Victorian · colonial · registry · heritage · monument · architecture · centennial · legacy · plaque · renovation
- legal systemattorney, landmark cases, criminal cases, lawyers, legal precedents
- civic landmarkscapitol, city gate, civic center, clock tower, memorial park
- Colonial AmericaGeorge Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Ben Franklin, Benjamin Franklin, Declaration of Independence
- government buildingsstate capitol, legislative building, senate building, administrative building, administration building
- government propertypost office, military base, national park, city hall, fire station
- public buildingsgovernment buildings, city halls, civic buildings, municipal buildings, town halls
courthouseprison
Confinement for offenders
penitentiary · jail · correctional facility · death row · execution chamber
courthousecrime scene
Location of an offense
black market · no-man's-land · war zone · underworld · back alley
- courthouse weddingMarriage performed by judge
- county courthouseRegional government legal facility
- courthouse stepsStairs to legal building