defence counsel
Accused's courtroom representative
Defence counsel is the lawyer or lawyers representing the accused in a criminal trial.
The term appears primarily in British, Canadian, and other Commonwealth legal systems; American courts typically say defense attorney or defense lawyer.
The defence counsel argued that the evidence was inadmissible.
In formal contexts, counsel may refer to a single lawyer or a legal team.
- plea bargainingNegotiated admission of guilt
- not guilty pleaDefendant's denial of wrongdoing
- attorneyLicensed legal representative
- barristerUK courtroom advocate
- presumption of innocenceDefault legal blamelessness
courtroom strategy · reasonable doubt · reasonable suspicion · advocate · exculpatory evidence · due process · solicitor · legal aid · cross-examination · burden of proof · privilege · closing arguments · paralegal · trial lawyer · forensic expert · investigator · client confidentiality · criminal lawyer
- legal professionalslawyer, attorney, barrister, solicitor, judge
- British legalbarrister, solicitor, QC, KC, crown prosecutor
- criminal courtcriminal court, judge, jury, trial, verdict
- courtsfamily court, civil court, district court, criminal court, circuit court
- Scottish courtssheriff, circuit courts, district courts, criminal jurisdiction, civil procedure
- youth justicejuvenile court, juvenile courts, youth court, youth courts, juvenile detention
defence counselprosecutor
Government's trial lawyer
prosecution · prosecuting attorney · district attorney · state's attorney · public prosecutor
defence counseljudge
One who decides
magistrate · presiding judge · tribunal · adjudicator · jury
defence counselprosecutor
Government's trial lawyer
accuser · adversary · inquisitor · persecutor
defence, counsel, defense, defensive, defensively, defensiveness, defend, defender, defended