Reference
Glossary
Legal terms, defined in plain English.
- ADR
- Alternative dispute resolution — resolving disputes outside court, such as mediation or arbitration.
- Appeal
- A request that a higher court review a lower court's decision for legal errors.
- Arbitration
- A private process where a neutral arbitrator hears both sides and makes a usually binding decision.
- Burden of proof
- The obligation to prove a fact in dispute. Higher in criminal cases than civil ones.
- Civil liberties
- Protections from improper government action, like free speech and privacy.
- Civil rights
- Rights to equal treatment and protection from discrimination.
- Due process
- Fair procedures and, sometimes, protection of fundamental rights.
- Equal protection
- The rule that government must treat similarly situated people alike.
- Incitement
- Speech directed to producing imminent unlawful action and likely to do so — not protected.
- Jurisdiction
- A court's power to hear a case and decide it.
- Mediation
- A voluntary process where a neutral helps parties reach their own settlement.
- Standing
- The legal right to sue — based on injury, causation, and something a court can fix.
- Statute of limitations
- The deadline for filing a lawsuit.
- True threat
- A statement meant to make someone fear serious harm — not protected speech.