Legal Terms Dictionary

 

 Legal terms are arranged alphabetically, click on the appropriate letter below...

 Home   A   B   C   D   E   F   G   H   I   J   K   L   M   N   O   P   Q   R   S   T   U   V   W   X   Y   Z

J

Joint and several liability - A legal doctrine that makes each of the parties who are responsible for an injury, liable for all the damages awarded in a lawsuit if the other parties responsible cannot pay.

Joint tenancy - A form of legal co-ownership of property (also known as survivorship). At the death of one co-owner, the surviving co-owner becomes sole owner of the property. Tenancy by the entirety is a special form of joint tenancy between a husband and wife.

Judge - A presiding officer of the court.

Judgment - The official and authentic decision of a court of justice upon the rights and claims of parties to an action or suit submitted to the court for determination.

Judgment debtor - One who owes money as a result of a judgment in favor of a creditor.

Judicial lien - A lien obtained by judgment or other judicial process against a debtor.

Judicial review - The authority of a court to review the official actions of other branches of government. Also, the authority to declare unconstitutional the actions of other branches.

Judiciary - The branch of government invested with judicial power to interpret and apply the law; the court system; the body of judges; then bench.

Jurat - Certificate of person and officer before whom a writing is sworn to.

Jurisdiction - The power or authority of a court to hear and try a case; the geographic area in which a court has power or the types of cases it has power to hear.

Jurisprudence - The study of law and the structure of the legal system.

Jury - A certain number of men and women selected according to law and sworn to try a question of fact or indict a person for public offense.

Justiciable - Issues and claims capable of being properly examined in court.

 

 

Sources: U.S. Courts - District of Idaho; Ninth Judicial Circuit Court of Florida; Utah State Courts
Web Design, Website Construction & Web Hosting by Art Schobey Interactive - Las Cruces New Mexico