defendant
Sued party responds
A defendant is the person or entity accused in a legal proceeding—the party defending against charges or claims.
In criminal cases, the defendant faces prosecution by the state: The defendant pleaded not guilty.
In civil cases, the defendant responds to a lawsuit brought by a plaintiff.
The term applies from the moment charges are filed through trial and verdict.
Licensed legal representative
- counselExpert guidance offered
- lawyerLicensed legal representative
- legal representationAttorney acting on behalf
- pleaFormal request or defense
alibi · cross-examination · objection · rebuttal · testimony · witness · evidence · burden of proof
Believe to be likely
- chargedFormally accused of crime
- indictedFormally charged legally
- arraignedFormally charged in court
- prosecutedLegally charged with crime
implicated · incriminated · alleged · apprehended · arrested · detained · culprit · perpetrator
Judicial proceedings chamber
- dockMooring structure at water's edge
- standUpright support structure
- arraignmentCharge-reading court session
- hearingPerceiving sound waves
proceeding · docket · subpoena · appearance · plea hearing · pretrial · preliminary hearing · jury trial
Responsible for wrongdoing
- not guiltyCleared of charges
- innocentFree from moral wrong
- convictedJudged guilty of crime
- acquittedDeclared legally innocent
sentenced · exonerated · judgment · conviction · acquittal · hung jury · unanimous verdict · deliberation
Claim someone did wrong
- allegationAssertion lacking proof
- indictmentFormal charge from jury
- complaintExpression of discontent
- chargeCost or accusation
count · offense · crime · felony · misdemeanor · violation · infraction · criminal charge
Custodial rights advisement
- due processGuaranteed judicial fairness
- presumption of innocenceDefault legal blamelessness
- right to counselDefendant's guaranteed legal representation
- speedy trialTimely court proceeding guaranteed
fair trial · bail · bond · habeas corpus · constitutional rights · legal aid · pro bono · Sixth Amendment
Civil case initiator
- litigantParty in lawsuit
- partyGathering for celebration
- respondentOne who gives answers
- appelleeParty against whom appeal is brought
lawsuit · suit · damages · liability · counterclaim · settlement · deposition · discovery
attorney
Licensed legal representative
- counselExpert guidance offered
- lawyerLicensed legal representative
- legal representationAttorney acting on behalf
plea · alibi · cross-examination · objection · rebuttal · testimony · witness · evidence · burden of proof · reasonable doubt
suspect
Believe to be likely
prosecuted · implicated · incriminated · alleged · apprehended · arrested · detained · culprit · perpetrator · offender
courtroom
Judicial proceedings chamber
- dockMooring structure at water's edge
- standUpright support structure
- arraignmentCharge-reading court session
hearing · proceeding · docket · subpoena · appearance · plea hearing · pretrial · preliminary hearing · jury trial · bench trial
guilty
Responsible for wrongdoing
- not guiltyCleared of charges
- innocentFree from moral wrong
- convictedJudged guilty of crime
acquitted · sentenced · exonerated · judgment · conviction · acquittal · hung jury · unanimous verdict · deliberation · appeal
accusation
Claim someone did wrong
- allegationAssertion lacking proof
- indictmentFormal charge from jury
- complaintExpression of discontent
charge · count · offense · crime · felony · misdemeanor · violation · infraction · criminal charge · multiple counts
Miranda
Custodial rights advisement
- due processGuaranteed judicial fairness
- presumption of innocenceDefault legal blamelessness
- right to counselDefendant's guaranteed legal representation
speedy trial · fair trial · bail · bond · habeas corpus · constitutional rights · legal aid · pro bono · Sixth Amendment · Fifth Amendment
plaintiff
Civil case initiator
- litigantParty in lawsuit
- partyGathering for celebration
- respondentOne who gives answers
appellee · lawsuit · suit · damages · liability · counterclaim · settlement · deposition · discovery · motion
- courtroomjudge, jury, oath taking, lawyer, bench
- justicecourtroom, trials, retributive justice, courts, gavel
- legal termstrial, legal, appeal, lawsuit, law
- court termscourt, courts, judge, judges, trial
- trial systemsjury trial, bench trial, grand jury, criminal trial, civil trial
- lawsuit partiesplaintiff, petitioner, respondent, claimant, co-plaintiff
defendantplaintiff
Civil case initiator
prosecutor · claimant · petitioner · complainant · accuser
defendantaccuser
One who alleges wrongdoing
prosecutor · complainant · victim · injured party · plaintiff
- defendant's rightsLegal protections for accused persons
- defendant rightsLegal protections for accused persons
- criminal defendantPerson charged with offense