Vocabulary Words Every Judicial Clerk Should Know

Court

Definition: A place where legal cases are heard.

• The judge works in a court.
• He went to court for the trial.
• The court decides on important matters.

Court in a sentence

Judge

Definition: To form an opinion about something; a person who decides in legal cases.

• It's not fair to judge someone without knowing them.
• The judge made a decision in the case.
• I try not to judge people too quickly.

Judge in a sentence

Case

Definition: A particular situation or example.

• In this case, we need to find a solution.
• The teacher explained the case of the missing book.
• He carried his glasses in a protective case.

Case in a sentence

Law

Definition: A system of rules created by a government.

• Everyone must follow the law.
• She studied law at university.
• The law protects people's rights.

Law in a sentence

Trial

Definition: A test of performance, quality, or suitability; a legal process.

• They will conduct a trial for the new product.
• The trial was held in the courtroom.
• She is participating in a trial for a medication.

Trial in a sentence

Lawyer

Definition: A professional who practices law and represents clients in legal matters.

• The lawyer prepared the case for court.
• She wants to become a lawyer to help others.
• Understanding the role of a lawyer is crucial in legal issues.

Lawyer in a sentence

Crime

Definition: An act that breaks the law.

• The police are investigating a crime in the area.
• Stealing is a serious crime.
• He read a book about crime and its consequences.

Crime in a sentence

Witness

Definition: A person who sees an event, often a crime, and can provide information.

• The witness testified at the trial.
• She was a witness to the accident and reported it.
• Witnesses play a crucial role in legal cases.

Witness in a sentence

Jury

Definition: A group of people chosen to listen to evidence in a court and make a decision.

• The jury will decide if the defendant is guilty or not.
• She was selected to serve on the jury this week.
• The jury listened carefully to all the testimonies.

Jury in a sentence

Evidence

Definition: the information that helps prove something

• The detective found evidence at the scene.
• She presented evidence to support her argument.
• The evidence showed that he was telling the truth.

Evidence in a sentence

Verdict

Definition: A decision made by a jury or judge in a court case.

• The jury reached a verdict after hours of deliberation.
• The verdict was announced in the courtroom.
• He awaited the verdict with anxiety.

Verdict in a sentence

Appeal

Definition: to make a request for a decision to be reviewed

• The student decided to appeal the exam results.
• His speech had an emotional appeal that moved many.
• Understanding appeal helps in discussions about rights.

Appeal in a sentence

Sentence

Definition: A set of words that expresses a complete thought.

• Can you write a sentence using this word?
• Every sentence needs a subject and a verb.
• I enjoy reading long sentences in books.

Sentence in a sentence

Defendant

Definition: A person accused of a crime in a court of law.

• The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges.
• The lawyer defended the defendant during the trial.
• He was nervous as the defendant in the case.

Defendant in a sentence

Plaintiff

Definition: A person who brings a case against another in a court of law.

• The plaintiff argued that the contract was broken.
• In the trial, the plaintiff presented evidence to support her claim.
• The plaintiff is seeking damages for the accident.

Plaintiff in a sentence

Oath

Definition: A formal promise to tell the truth or fulfill a commitment.

• He took an oath to serve his country.
• The witness swore an oath before giving testimony.
• She made an oath to uphold the values of her profession.

Oath in a sentence

Bail

Definition: to release someone from custody or to remove water from a boat

• He had to bail out his friend from jail.
• They needed to bail the water out of the boat.
• She decided to bail after realizing it was too risky.

Bail in a sentence

Rights

Definition: Legal or moral entitlements that people have.

• Everyone has rights that should be respected.
• They protested to defend their rights.
• Human rights are important for all individuals.

Rights in a sentence

Rule

Definition: A statement that tells what is allowed or what will happen.

• The teacher made a rule about talking in class.
• We follow the rules to keep everyone safe.
• It's important to know the rules of the game.

Rule in a sentence

Order

Definition: To request something to be made, delivered, or done.

• I will order a pizza for dinner.
• Please order the books from the library.
• We need to order new supplies for the classroom.

Order in a sentence

Legal

Definition: Relating to the law; permitted by law.

• It is legal to drive at age sixteen in our state.
• We should follow all legal rules in our community.
• He studied legal issues in school.

Legal in a sentence

Document

Definition: A written or printed paper that provides information.

• Please sign the document.
• I need to read this document carefully.
• They stored the document in a safe place.

Document in a sentence

Ruling

Definition: an official decision made by a judge or authority

• The court issued a ruling on the case.
• Her ruling was based on the evidence presented.
• They were waiting for the ruling from the judge.

Ruling in a sentence

Brief

Definition: Short in duration or extent; concise.

• He gave a brief summary of the meeting.
• The teacher's explanation was brief and clear.
• We had a brief chat before class started.

Brief in a sentence

Hearing

Definition: The ability to perceive sounds; also refers to a formal meeting to listen to evidence.

• Her hearing is very sharp, and she notices sounds easily.
• The judge scheduled a hearing for the case next week.
• He had difficulty hearing in noisy environments.

Hearing in a sentence

Motion

Definition: The act of moving or changing position.

• The motion of the car was smooth on the road.
• He studied the motion of planets in science.
• Her hand made a motion to wave goodbye.

Motion in a sentence

Clause

Definition: A group of words with a subject and verb.

• A clause can be independent or dependent.
• The sentence has a main clause and a subordinate clause.
• He identified the clause in the sentence.

Clause in a sentence

Injunction

Definition: a legal order that requires someone to do or refrain from doing something

• The court issued an injunction against the company.
• An injunction can stop harmful activities.
• She filed for an injunction to protect her rights.

Injunction in a sentence

Judgment

Definition: The ability to make considered decisions or come to sensible conclusions.

• Her judgment about the situation was very wise.
• He made a quick judgment based on the facts.
• Understanding judgment helps in decision-making processes.

Judgment in a sentence

Litigant

Definition: A person involved in a lawsuit, either as a plaintiff or defendant.

• The litigant presented their case in court.
• She was a litigant in a family dispute case.
• Each litigant has the right to legal representation.

Litigant in a sentence

Precedent

Definition: An action or decision that serves as an example for future situations.

• The court's ruling set a legal precedent.
• They referred to a precedent in their argument.
• Understanding precedent is crucial in law and governance.

Precedent in a sentence

Statute

Definition: A written law passed by a legislative body.

• The new statute aims to protect the environment.
• She learned about the statute during her civics class.
• Understanding statutes is important for knowing our rights.

Statute in a sentence

Testimony

Definition: A formal statement or evidence, often given in court; personal account of an experience.

• Her testimony helped the jury understand the case.
• He gave a testimony about his experience.
• The testimony was important for the trial.

Testimony in a sentence

Tort

Definition: A wrongful act leading to legal liability; a civil wrong.

• A tort can result in a lawsuit.
• She filed a tort claim for damages.
• Understanding tort law is important for legal studies.

Tort in a sentence

Adjudicate

Definition: to make a formal judgment or decision

• The committee will adjudicate the dispute.
• He was chosen to adjudicate the competition.
• They hope to adjudicate the case quickly.

Adjudicate in a sentence

Affidavit

Definition: a written statement made under oath

• He signed an affidavit to confirm his identity.
• The lawyer submitted an affidavit to the court.
• An affidavit is often used as evidence in legal matters.

Affidavit in a sentence

Amicus Curiae

Definition: A legal term for someone who is not a party to a case but offers information.

• The amicus curiae provided valuable insights for the court.
• They submitted a brief as an amicus curiae.
• An amicus curiae can influence legal decisions.

Amicus Curiae in a sentence

Appellate

Definition: Related to the process of appeals in a court.

• The appellate court reviewed the case.
• Understanding appellate procedures is vital for lawyers.
• He studied appellate law in his legal classes.

Appellate in a sentence

Arbitration

Definition: A process where a neutral third party helps resolve disputes between two sides.

• Arbitration is often used to settle business disagreements.
• They agreed to arbitration to avoid going to court.
• Understanding arbitration can help in conflict resolution.

Arbitration in a sentence

Burden Of Proof

Definition: The obligation to prove one's assertion.

• In court, the burden of proof lies with the prosecution.
• The lawyer explained the burden of proof to the jury.
• Understanding the burden of proof is essential in legal cases.

Burden Of Proof in a sentence

Certiorari

Definition: A type of writ seeking judicial review; often used in legal contexts.

• The court issued a certiorari to review the case.
• Understanding certiorari is important in law studies.
• They filed for certiorari to challenge the decision.

Certiorari in a sentence

Civil Procedure

Definition: The set of rules governing civil lawsuits.

• Civil procedure outlines how legal cases are handled in court.
• Understanding civil procedure is crucial for law students.
• Lawyers must follow civil procedure during trials.

Codify

Definition: To arrange laws or rules into a systematic code.

• The government plans to codify the new regulations.
• He learned how to codify rules for clarity.
• Codifying laws helps in legal processes.

Codify in a sentence

Common Law

Definition: Law based on judicial decisions and precedent rather than statutes.

• Common law evolves with each court ruling.
• She studied common law in her legal studies class.
• Understanding common law is crucial for understanding legal systems.

Common Law in a sentence

Concurring Opinion

Definition: An agreement with a decision or judgment, but with different reasoning.

• The judge wrote a concurring opinion explaining his views.
• She supported the ruling with a concurring opinion.
• His concurring opinion added depth to the discussion.

Concurring Opinion in a sentence

Dissenting Opinion

Definition: An opinion that disagrees with the majority in a decision or ruling.

• The judge wrote a dissenting opinion on the case.
• Her dissenting opinion highlighted different perspectives.
• Understanding dissenting opinions can lead to comprehensive discussions.

Dissenting Opinion in a sentence

Due Process

Definition: The legal requirement that the state must respect all legal rights.

• Due process ensures fair treatment under the law.
• He learned about due process in civics class.
• Understanding due process is essential for justice.

Due Process in a sentence

Equitable

Definition: Fair and just; treating everyone in a way that is fair.

• The teacher strives to create an equitable classroom.
• They discussed equitable solutions for the community.
• Understanding equitable practices can promote fairness.

Equitable in a sentence

Jurisprudence

Definition: The theory or philosophy of law and legal systems.

• Jurisprudence examines the principles behind laws.
• He studied jurisprudence to understand legal reasoning.
• Understanding jurisprudence is essential for aspiring lawyers.

Jurisprudence in a sentence

Litigate

Definition: To take a case to court; to engage in legal proceedings.

• They decided to litigate the contract dispute.
• He prefers to settle rather than litigate.
• Litigating can be a long and costly process.

Litigate in a sentence

Mandate

Definition: an official order or command

• The school received a mandate to improve safety.
• The government issued a mandate for recycling.
• Understanding the mandate is important for compliance.

Mandate in a sentence

Remand

Definition: To send someone back into custody or detention.

• The judge decided to remand the suspect for further investigation.
• He was remanded until the trial date.
• They were placed on remand while awaiting their hearing.

Remand in a sentence

Transcript

Definition: A written or printed version of spoken material or an official record of grades.

• The school sent my transcript to the university.
• She reviewed her transcript for any mistakes.
• The transcript shows all the classes I have taken.

Transcript in a sentence

Tribunal

Definition: A court of justice or a body established to settle disputes.

• The tribunal reviewed the case thoroughly.
• She appeared before the tribunal to present her evidence.
• Understanding the role of a tribunal is important in law.

Tribunal in a sentence

Voir Dire

Definition: A legal process of questioning potential jurors.

• During voir dire, lawyers ask jurors about their backgrounds.
• The judge conducted the voir dire before the trial.
• Voir dire helps ensure a fair jury selection.

Jurisdiction

Definition: The official power to make legal decisions and judgments; the area of authority.

• The court has jurisdiction over criminal cases.
• Understanding jurisdiction is important in law.
• They debated the jurisdiction of the local court.

Jurisdiction in a sentence

Subpoena

Definition: A legal document that orders someone to appear in court or produce evidence.

• She received a subpoena to testify as a witness.
• The lawyer issued a subpoena for the missing documents.
• He was nervous about the subpoena he received in the mail.

Subpoena in a sentence

Discovery

Definition: The act of finding or learning something new.

• The scientist made a great discovery.
• Her discovery changed the way we think about health.
• They celebrated the discovery of a new species.

Discovery in a sentence

Litigation

Definition: The process of taking legal action; a lawsuit.

• Litigation can be expensive and time-consuming.
• They decided to avoid litigation and settle.
• She studied litigation in law school.

Litigation in a sentence

Settlement

Definition: An official agreement or a community where people live.

• The peace settlement ended the conflict.
• They moved to a new settlement in the countryside.
• The settlement was established many years ago.

Settlement in a sentence

Liability

Definition: the state of being responsible for something, especially in law

• He accepted liability for the accident.
• The company has a liability to its employees.
• Understanding liability is important in business.

Liability in a sentence

Ex Parte

Definition: A legal term meaning one-sided or involving only one party.

• The judge made an ex parte decision without hearing from both sides.
• In ex parte hearings, only one party presents their case.
• Understanding ex parte rules is important in legal matters.

Dispositive

Definition: Having the power to decide or settle an issue.

• The judge made a dispositive ruling in the case.
• His argument was dispositive in persuading the committee.
• Understanding dispositive factors is important in decision-making.

Evidentiary

Definition: Relating to evidence or its use in legal contexts.

• The evidentiary rules guided the trial process.
• She studied evidentiary standards in law school.
• Understanding evidentiary concepts is crucial in court.

Evidentiary in a sentence

Sanction

Definition: A penalty or punishment for breaking a rule.

• The player received a sanction for misconduct.
• The country faced sanctions due to its actions.
• Sanctions can affect trade and relations.

Sanction in a sentence

Jurisprudential

Definition: Relating to the theory or philosophy of law.

• The jurisprudential aspects of the case were debated.
• She took a jurisprudential approach to the legal issue.
• His jurisprudential perspective influenced the decision.

Jurisprudential in a sentence

Moot

Definition: Subject to debate or uncertainty; not relevant; can also mean to discuss.

• The idea became moot after the decision was made.
• They had a moot discussion about the policy changes.
• His arguments were moot in light of the new evidence.

Moot in a sentence

Per Curiam

Definition: A Latin term meaning "by the court," often used in legal contexts.

• The ruling was issued per curiam by the judges.
• In a per curiam decision, the court speaks as a whole.
• They referred to the per curiam opinion in their discussion.

Interlocutory

Definition: related to a conversation or dialogue

• Interlocutory discussions can clarify misunderstandings.
• The interlocutory remarks helped improve communication.
• They focused on interlocutory strategies in the workshop.

Interlocutory in a sentence

Estoppel

Definition: A legal principle that prevents someone from arguing something contrary to a previous claim or behavior.

• The court applied estoppel to ensure fairness in the case.
• Understanding estoppel is important in contract law.
• He invoked estoppel to support his argument.

Estoppel in a sentence