defendants
Those facing charges
Defendants is the plural of defendant, a person or entity accused in a legal proceeding.
In criminal cases, defendants face charges brought by the state: The defendants pleaded not guilty.
In civil cases, they're the party being sued: The defendants in the class action included three pharmaceutical companies.
The word implies someone responding to allegations rather than initiating them.
Formal charge from jury
- chargeCost or accusation
- allegationAssertion lacking proof
- prosecutionPursuing legal charges
- arraignmentCharge-reading court session
incrimination · blame · culpability · suspect · guilt · innocence · plea · denial
Sworn statement as evidence
- evidenceFacts supporting truth
- verdictOfficial court decision
- witnessOne who attests
- cross-examinationOpposing party questions witness
courtroom · jury · judge · sentencing · conviction · acquittal · deliberation · objection
Those initiating lawsuits
- partiesOrganized social gatherings
- lawsuitCivil court proceeding
- respondentOne who gives answers
- appellantOne who appeals
appellee · petitioner · claimant · countersuit · civil · tort · liability · damages
Expert guidance offered
- attorneyLicensed legal representative
- representationDepiction or likeness
- advocatePublic cause supporter
- barristerUK courtroom advocate
solicitor · legal aid · plea bargain · motion · brief · rights · due process · Miranda
indictment
Formal charge from jury
- chargeCost or accusation
- allegationAssertion lacking proof
- prosecutionPursuing legal charges
arraignment · incrimination · blame · culpability · suspect · guilt · innocence · plea · denial · charges
testimony
Sworn statement as evidence
cross-examination · courtroom · jury · judge · sentencing · conviction · acquittal · deliberation · objection · dock
plaintiffs
Those initiating lawsuits
- partiesOrganized social gatherings
- lawsuitCivil court proceeding
- respondentOne who gives answers
appellant · appellee · petitioner · claimant · countersuit · civil · tort · liability · damages · negligence
counsel
Expert guidance offered
- attorneyLicensed legal representative
- representationDepiction or likeness
- advocatePublic cause supporter
barrister · solicitor · legal aid · plea bargain · motion · brief · rights · due process · Miranda · habeas corpus
- justicecourtroom, trials, retributive justice, courts, gavel
- legallawyer, judge, jury, trial, verdict
- Legal TVtrials, verdicts, testimony, evidence, cross-examination
- civil litigationlawsuits, plaintiffs, verdicts, judgments, civil claims
- legal systemsconstitutional law, judiciary, criminal code, court system, penal code
- criminal trialstrials, accused, verdicts, convictions, charges
defendantsplaintiffs
Those initiating lawsuits
prosecutors · accusers · complainants · claimants · petitioners
- defendant's rightsLegal protections for accused persons
- defendant rightsLegal protections for accused persons
- criminal defendantPerson charged with offense