legal cases
Trials and suits
Legal cases are formal disputes brought before courts for resolution.
A case proceeds through arguments, evidence, and judgment.
Lawyers cite previous cases as precedent: The attorney referenced several landmark cases.
In law school, the case method teaches through studying actual decisions.
A case can also mean the arguments supporting one side: She made a strong case for dismissal.
- acquittalFormal clearing of charges
- civil casesNon-criminal legal disputes
- appeals processSystem for contesting decisions
- burden of proofDuty to prove allegations
- criminal casesLawsuits against alleged offenders
verdict · due process · defendant · mens rea · precedent · settlement · out of court · pro bono · conviction · landmark decision · contract disputes · habeas corpus · plaintiff · deposition · sworn testimony · opening statement · closing arguments · jury duty
- case bookcourt rulings, precedents, landmark cases
- legallawyer, judge, jury, trial, verdict
- courtsfamily court, civil court, district court, criminal court, circuit court
- civil rightsequal protection, equal rights, Civil Rights Act, right to life, Voting Rights Act
- courtroom termsoath, witness, judge, trial, jury
legal casesarbitration
Non-court binding dispute resolution
mediation · plea bargains · ADR · conciliation · tribal councils
legal casesinformal agreements
Unwritten mutual understandings
gentleman's agreements · handshake deals · backroom deals · vigilante justice · letting it go
legal casesvigilante justice
Unauthorized punishment by civilians
mob justice · lynchings · vendettas · blood feuds · honor killings