legal proceeding
Case before judge
A legal proceeding is any action taken in a court of law or other official body to resolve a dispute, enforce rights, or determine legal questions.
The term covers lawsuits, hearings, trials, and administrative actions: The company faces legal proceedings over the merger.
Proceedings (plural) often refers to the official record of what transpired: The proceedings were sealed by the judge.
Perceiving sound waves
- testimonySworn statement as evidence
- witnessOne who attests
- evidenceFacts supporting truth
- verdictOfficial court decision
judge · jury · gavel · bench · courtroom · bailiff · stenographer · objection
Civil court proceeding
- plaintiffCivil case initiator
- defendantParty facing charges
- complaintExpression of discontent
- summonsFormal court notification
motion · discovery · deposition · interrogatories · subpoena · brief · pleadings · filing
Reasoned decision-making capacity
- rulingFormal legal determination
- decreeAuthoritative legal command
- orderMethodical arrangement or request
- adjudicationFormal decision on disputes
arbitration · mediation · conciliation · settlement · award · remedy · redress · consent decree
Charge-reading court session
- indictmentFormal charge from jury
- prosecutionPursuing legal charges
- chargeCost or accusation
- pleaFormal request or defense
bail · bond · acquittal · conviction · sentencing · probation · parole · incarceration
Licensed legal representative
- counselExpert guidance offered
- barristerUK courtroom advocate
- solicitorDocument-drafting legal professional
- advocatePublic cause supporter
litigant · petitioner · respondent · appellant · appellee · prosecutor · public defender · paralegal
hearing
Perceiving sound waves
verdict · judge · jury · gavel · bench · courtroom · bailiff · stenographer · objection · sidebar
lawsuit
Civil court proceeding
summons · motion · discovery · deposition · interrogatories · subpoena · brief · pleadings · filing · docket
judgment
Reasoned decision-making capacity
- rulingFormal legal determination
- decreeAuthoritative legal command
- orderMethodical arrangement or request
adjudication · arbitration · mediation · conciliation · settlement · award · remedy · redress · consent decree · plea bargain
arraignment
Charge-reading court session
- indictmentFormal charge from jury
- prosecutionPursuing legal charges
- chargeCost or accusation
plea · bail · bond · acquittal · conviction · sentencing · probation · parole · incarceration · appeal
attorney
Licensed legal representative
- counselExpert guidance offered
- barristerUK courtroom advocate
- solicitorDocument-drafting legal professional
advocate · litigant · petitioner · respondent · appellant · appellee · prosecutor · public defender · paralegal · clerk
- recordsbirth records, world record, record, Guinness, documents
legal proceedingout-of-court settlement
Resolution bypassing formal litigation
backroom deal · gentleman's agreement · peer mediation · community justice · verbal agreement
legal proceedingvigilante justice
Unauthorized punishment by civilians
mob justice · lynch mob · taking the law into one's own hands · lynching · kangaroo court
legal proceedingletting it go
legal, proceed, proceeding, proceedings, legally, legality, legalize, legalization, illegal