First degree murder

First degree murder is murder with intent and premeditated.

Second degree murder

Second degree murder is intentional murder where death was a possibility from the assault but without premeditation.

Homicide

A homicide is the killing of a person by another person.

Murder

Murder means to kill by deliberation and/or premeditation.

Involuntary manslaughter

Involuntary manslaughter is the unintentional killing of another person.

Voluntary manslaughter

Voluntary manslaughter is the intentional killing of another person without any prior intent to kill. They acted in the "heat of the moment" from provocation which would cause a person to become emotionally or mentally disturbed.

Manslaughter

Manslaughter is a lesser charge than murder. It is the killing of another person without premeditation.

Finding

The finding is the result of the deliberations of the court, a judges decision, or opinion on factual position in a law suit.

Resonable doubt

Resonable doubt is a legal standard that states someone cannot be convicted if a jury still has a logical doubt to his or her guilt.

House of Representatives

The House of Representatives currently consists of 435 voting members. The number of representatives each state has in the House is based on each state's population as determined in the most recent United States Census. Each representative serves a two-year term.

Senate

The Senate is made up of two senators from each state. There is currently a total of 100 senators who each serve a six-year term.

United States Constitution

The United States Constitution is the supreme law of the United States of America. It was ratified on June 21, 1788.

Bill of Rights

The Bill of Rights is the name for the first ten amendments to the United States Constitution. The Bill of Rights was ratified on December 15, 1791.

Attorney general

The attorney general is the principal legal officer who represents a country or a state in legal proceedings.

Bail

Bail is a form of property deposited or pledged to a court to persuade it to release a suspect from jail, by an agreement that they will appear at the time and place designated or forfeit the bail.

Gag order

A gag order is an order by the court restricting information or comment from being made public. Gag orders are often used to conceal information from the public.

Hostile witness

A hostile witness is a person called to testify as a witness by the party to whom that witness is opposed. The witness may make testimony that weakens the case of the side they are supposed to be supporting.

Sidebar

A sidebar is a courtroom conference between the lawyers and the judge and held away from the jury's hearing.

Cross-examination

Cross-examination is the examination of a witness by the party opposed to the one who put him on the witness stand to testify.

Direct examination

Direct examination is the initial questioning of a witness by the party who called the witness.

Verdict

The verdict is the jury's formal findings of fact or decision on the case.

Affiant

The affiant is the person who gives the sworn statement of fact in an affidavit.

Affidavit

An affidavit is a sworn statement of fact, done before someone who is authorized to take oaths.

Writ

A writ is a court order, ordering someone to do or refrain from doing something.

Subpoena

A subpoena requires a witness to appear and give testimony in court.

Jury

A jury are people who are selected to hear evidence and sworn to give a true verdict in a criminal or civil case.

Demurrer

A demurrer challenges whether or not a legal cause of action exists for the facts.