Law Dictionary

Federal public defender An attorney employed by the federal courts on a full-time basis to provide legal defense to defendants who are unable to afford counsel. The judiciary administers the federal defender program pursuant to the Criminal Justice Act. Exemptions, exempt property Certain property owned by an individual debtor that the Bankruptcy Code or applicable state law permits the debtor to keep from unsecured creditors. The availability and amount of property the debtor may exempt depends on the state the debtor lives in.

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Lien A charge on specific property that is designed to secure payment of a debt or performance of an obligation. A debtor may still be responsible for a lien after a discharge. Judgment The official decision of a court finally resolving the dispute between the parties to the lawsuit. The process of calling a witness’s testimony into doubt. Read more about legal commentaries here. For example, if the attorney can show that the witness may have fabricated portions of his testimony, the witness is said to be “impeached;” 2.

British Dictionary definitions for law (2 of

As a standalone tool, this pocket edition includes a dictionary guide and the complete U.S. Black’s is cited by judges and lawyers more than any other legal dictionary, comes recommended by law faculty, and is available in this pocket format and in a variety of other useful editions. This free online legal dictionary and glossary of law terms contains definitions of legal terminology and law terms commonly used by lawyers and legal documents. The Bankruptcy Code contains certain provisions designed to reduce the time a small business debtor is in bankruptcy.

No-asset case A Chapter 7 case in which there are no assets available to satisfy any portion of the creditors’ unsecured claims. Motion to lift the automatic stay A request by a creditor to allow the creditor to take action against the debtor or the debtor’s property that would otherwise be prohibited by the automatic stay. Liquidation The sale of a debtor’s property with the proceeds to be used for the benefit of creditors. Jury instructions A judge’s directions to the jury before it begins deliberations regarding the factual questions it must answer and the legal rules that it must apply. Judicial Conference of the United States The policy-making entity for the federal court system. A 27-judge body whose presiding officer is the Chief Justice of the United States. Injunction A court order preventing one or more named parties from taking some action.

A state or condition of individuals or society characterized by an absence or breakdown of social and legal norms and values, as in the case of an uprooted people. A statement that describes what will happen in all cases under a specified set of conditions. Laws describe an invariable relationship among phenomena. Boyle’s law, for instance, describes what will happen to the volume of a gas if its pressure changes and its temperature remains the same. Unless there is a court decision that changes our law, we are OK. In Wisconsin, the Green Party effort to get on the ballot was boosted by help from some Republicans and a prominent law firm that does work for the GOP. For the definition of a legal term, enter a word or phrase below.

Often means outside the presence of a jury and the public. Home confinement A special condition the court imposes that requires an individual to remain at home except for certain approved activities such as work and medical appointments.