statute of limitations
Prosecution time limit
A statute of limitations is a law setting the maximum time after an event within which legal proceedings may be initiated.
Once the period expires, claims or charges can no longer be brought: The statute of limitations on the debt had run out.
Different offenses have different time limits—serious crimes like murder often have none.
Figuratively, people invoke it to suggest something is too old to matter: There's no statute of limitations on betrayal.
Drinking establishment
- prohibitionAuthoritative legal ban
- time-barredBeyond legal claim period
- dismissalRemoval from position
- defenseProtection against harm
affirmative defense · waiver · estoppel · preclusion · foreclosure · prescription
Designated duration for something
- time limitMaximum duration permitted
- deadlineTime limit for completion
- cutoffPoint of termination
- windowGlass-fitted wall opening
period · clock · countdown · tolling · running · expiration · lapse · duration
Pursuing legal charges
- civil procedureRules for lawsuits
- criminal lawStatutes defining punishable offenses
- litigationLegal dispute process
- plaintiffCivil case initiator
defendant · indictment · filing · lawsuit · claim · cause of action · jurisdiction · federal
Peaceful stillness or calm
- finalityState of conclusive completion
- due processGuaranteed judicial fairness
- fairnessJust and equal treatment
- certaintyTotal absence of doubt
bar
Drinking establishment
- prohibitionAuthoritative legal ban
- time-barredBeyond legal claim period
- dismissalRemoval from position
defense · affirmative defense · waiver · estoppel · preclusion · foreclosure · prescription
timeframe
Designated duration for something
- time limitMaximum duration permitted
- deadlineTime limit for completion
- cutoffPoint of termination
window · period · clock · countdown · tolling · running · expiration · lapse · duration · accrual
prosecution
Pursuing legal charges
- civil procedureRules for lawsuits
- criminal lawStatutes defining punishable offenses
- litigationLegal dispute process
plaintiff · defendant · indictment · filing · lawsuit · claim · cause of action · jurisdiction · federal · state
repose
Peaceful stillness or calm
- finalityState of conclusive completion
- due processGuaranteed judicial fairness
- fairnessJust and equal treatment
certainty · closure · accountability · deterrence · staleness
- legal systemattorney, landmark cases, criminal cases, lawyers, legal precedents
- criminal lawcrime, felony, misdemeanor, murder, robbery
- litigationpleadings, lawsuit, plaintiff, complaint, lawsuits
- civil trialsplaintiff, lawsuit, jury trial, bench trial, jury
- discrimination lawanti-discrimination, nondiscrimination, gender bias, pay discrimination, discrimination lawsuit
- legal conventionsdue process, precedent, burden of proof, habeas corpus, plea bargain
statute of limitationspardon
Official release from punishment
amnesty · clemency · tolling · immunity · absolute immunity
statute of limitationscrimes against humanity
Systematic persecution of civilians
war crimes · murder · tolling