术语	定义
abatement2 of action	A suit that has been quashed and ended.
abeyance3	Incomplete or undetermined state of affairs.
abscond5	To run away or hide from the jurisdiction6 of the court in order to avoid legal proceedings8.
abstract of record	Abbreviated9, but complete history of a case as found in the record.
abstract of title	Concise10 chronological11 history of all official records and recorded documents affecting title to a parcel of land.
Accelerated Rehabilitative12 Disposition13 (ARD)	Voluntary program established by Pennsylvania's Supreme14 Court in 1972 for first-time, non-violent offenders16 whereby offenders undergo a probation17 supervision18 program for two years without conviction. If the program is successfully completed, charges against the offender15 are dismissed.
accessory	Person who aids or contributes in commission of a crime, usually by convincing someone to commit a crime or by helping19 the suspect escape or hide evidence. Usually not present during the crime. Compare accomplice20.
accomplice	Person who knowingly and voluntarily participates with another in a criminal act through aiding, abetting22, advising or encouraging offender. See aid and abet21. Compare accessory.
accord and satisfaction	Method of discharging a claim whereby parties agree to give and accept something in settlement of claim. The new agreement is called the accord. The satisfaction is the action performed to settle the claim.
acknowledgment	Short declaration at end of a legal paper showing paper was duly executed and acknowledged.
acquittal	Verdict after a criminal trial that defendant23 is not guilty of charged crime. Compare guilty.
action	A judicial25 proceeding7. An action in personam is against a person. An action in rem is against a thing, usually where property is involved.
actus reus (ACK tus REE us)	Proof that a criminal act has occurred. See elements of a crime.
ad litem (add LYE dem)	For the purposes of the lawsuit26. E.g., a guardian27 ad litem is appointed to prosecute28 or defend a suit on behalf of an incapacitated person or a minor29.
additur (ADD ih tur)	Increase by judge in amount of damages awarded by jury.
adjudication	Pronouncing judgment30 or decree; the judgment given.
administrator31	One who administers estate of person who dies without a will. See personal representative. Compare executor.
admissible evidence	Evidence which can be legally and properly introduced in a trial.
adversary32 proceeding	Proceeding having opposing parties; contested. Differs from ex parte proceeding.
adversary system	Trial method used in U.S. and some other countries, based on belief that truth can best be determined4 by giving opposing parties full opportunity to present and establish evidence and to test by cross-examination evidence presented by adversaries33 under established rules of procedure before an impartial34 judge and/or jury.
affiant	Person who makes and signs an affidavit35.
affidavit	Voluntary written statement of facts given under oath. In criminal cases affidavits36 are often used by police officers seeking to obtain search or arrest warrants. In civil cases affidavits of witnesses are often used to support motions for summary judgment.
affirmative defense37	Without denying the charge, defendant raises extenuating38 or mitigating39 circumstances such as insanity40, self-defense or entrapment41 to avoid civil or criminal responsibility.
affirmed	Decree or order at issue is declared valid42 by appellate court and will stand as rendered in lower court.
aggravated43 assault	See assault.
aggravating44 circumstances	Circumstances occurring in commission of an offense45 which occur above and beyond the offense itself and which serve to increase offense's guilt24 or enormity or add to its consequences. May increase sentence of individual convicted of offense. Compare mitigating circumstances.
aid and abet	To actively46, knowingly or intentionally48 assist another person in commission or attempted commission of a crime. See accomplice.
alibi49	Proof offered by defendant that he/she was at some other place at time of crime and thus could not have committed crime charged.
allegation	Statement of issues in a pleading that a party expects to prove. E.g., an indictment50 contains allegations of a crime against a defendant. allocatur (AL lo CAH tur)
allocatur (AL lo CAH tur)	"It is allowed." Petition to appeal.
alternative dispute resolution (ADR)	Settling a dispute without full, formal trial. Methods include mediation51, conciliation52, arbitration53 and settlement, among others.
amicus curiae (uh ME kus KYU ree EYE)	Friend of the court. One not a party to a case who, having a strong interest in the outcome, offers information on a point of law or some other aspect of the case.
answer	Defendant's response to plaintiff's allegations as stated in a complaint. Item-by-item, paragraph-by-paragraph response to points made in complaint. Part of the pleadings.
appeal	Request to have a decision made by a lower court reviewed by a higher court.
appearance	Coming into court. Formal act by which a defendant submits to the jurisdiction of a court. Compare arraignment54.
appellant	Party who initiates55 an appeal.
appellate court	Court having jurisdiction to review decisions of lower courts or administrative56 agencies.
appellee	Party against whom an appeal is taken. Sometimes called a respondent.
arbitration	Form of alternative dispute resolution in which parties bring dispute to a neutral third party and agree to abide57 by decision reached. Decisions usually cannot be appealed.
arraignment	Proceeding in which an accused person appears before a judge to hear the criminal charges filed against him/her and to enter a plea of guilty or not guilty. Compare preliminary hearing and initial appearance. See also appearance.
arrest	To take into custody58 by legal authority.
arrest of judgment	Act of delaying the effect of a judgment already entered.
assault	Threat to inflict59 injury with an apparent ability to do so. Also, any intentional47 display of force which would give victim reason to fear or expect immediate60 bodily harm. Aggravated assault must include another act which is also criminal, e.g., an attempt to cause serious bodily injury or commit another crime or use of a deadly weapon. Compare battery.
at issue	Point in a lawsuit when complaining party has stated claim and other side has responded with a denial. Contested points are said to be "at issue."
attachment61	Legal seizure62 and holding of person's property pending63 outcome of a lawsuit. Also, arrest of person guilty of contempt of court.
attempt	Effort to commit a crime, carried beyond preparation, but not executed.
attorney-at-law	Advocate, counsel or official agent employed in preparing, managing and trying cases in the courts.
attorney-in-fact	Private person, not necessarily an attorney, authorized64 by another to act in his place and stead, either for a particular purpose or for transaction of business in general that is not of legal character. Authority is conferred by an instrument in writing called a letter of attorney or, more commonly, power of attorney.
attorney of record	Principal attorney in a lawsuit who signs all formal documents relating to suit.
Abatement	A reduction in some amount that is owed, usually granted by the person to whom the debt is owed. For example, a landlord might grant an abatement in rent. In estate law, the word may refer more specifically to a situation where property identified in a will cannot be given to the beneficiary because it had to be sold to pay off the deceased debts. Debts are paid before gifts made in wills are distributed and where a specific gift has to be sold to pay off a debt, it is said to "abate1" (compare with "ademption").

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