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Civil and criminal court records contain specialized legal terminology that may appear in case files, minute books, dockets, indictments, and newspaper reports. This glossary defines commonly encountered terms to assist in interpreting court proceedings and identifying additional related records.
| Term | Definition |
| Acquittal | Formal finding of not guilty in a criminal case. |
| Affidavit | Sworn written statement used as evidence. |
| Allegation | Assertion of fact not yet proven in court. |
| Appeal | Request for higher court review of decision. |
| Arraignment | Initial court appearance where charges are read. |
| Bail | Money or bond posted to secure release before trial. |
| Bench Warrant | Court order for arrest issued by judge. |
| Bill of Particulars | Detailed written statement of claims or charges. |
| Bond | Financial guarantee ensuring court appearance. |
| Brief | Written legal argument submitted to court. |
| Burden of Proof | Obligation to prove allegations in court. |
| Capias | Writ ordering arrest of named individual. |
| Case File | Collection of documents related to legal action. |
| Cause of Action | Legal grounds for filing suit. |
| Civil Action | Non-criminal lawsuit between parties. |
| Complaint | Initial legal filing in civil case. |
| Continuance | Postponement of court proceeding. |
| Conviction | Formal declaration of guilt. |
| Court of Record | Court whose proceedings are permanently recorded. |
| Damages | Monetary compensation awarded in civil case. |
| Defendant | Person accused or sued. |
| Deposition | Sworn out-of-court testimony. |
| Docket | Chronological record of court proceedings. |
| Equity | Legal principles focused on fairness. |
| Exhibit | Evidence presented in court. |
| Felony | Serious criminal offense. |
| Grand Jury | Body reviewing evidence for indictment. |
| Indictment | Formal criminal charge. |
| Information | Formal accusation filed by prosecutor. |
| Injunction | Court order requiring or prohibiting action. |
| Judgment | Final decision of court. |
| Jurisdiction | Court’s authority to hear case. |
| Litigant | Party involved in lawsuit. |
| Misdemeanor | Lesser criminal offense. |
| Motion | Formal request to court. |
| Order | Directive issued by judge. |
| Petition | Formal written request to court. |
| Plaintiff | Party bringing civil suit. |
| Plea | Defendant’s formal response to charge. |
| Probation | Supervised release instead of imprisonment. |
| Prosecutor | Attorney representing the state. |
| Recognizance | Obligation entered before court to perform act. |
| Remand | Return to custody or lower court. |
| Sentence | Penalty imposed after conviction. |
| Subpoena | Court order requiring appearance or documents. |
| Summons | Notice requiring court appearance. |
| Testimony | Sworn evidence given in court. |
| Tort | Civil wrong causing injury. |
| Verdict | Jury’s formal decision. |
| Writ | Formal written court order. |
If you’d like this information in a clean, printable, and well-organized reference format, this topic is also included in the Quicksheet Vault. The Vault is designed for researchers who prefer working tools they can save, print, and reuse—whether that means building a personal binder of key resources or keeping reliable references close at hand. You can learn more about the Quicksheet Vault HERE