术语	定义
immediate1 cause	Last event in a series of events which causes another event, particularly an injury, to occur. May or may not also be the proximate cause. An event may have more than one proximate cause, but only one immediate cause.
immunity3	Agreement by court not to prosecute4 an individual in exchange for that individual providing criminal evidence..
impeach5	To attack credibility of a witness. Also, to charge with a crime or misconduct, in particular, to charge a public official with a violation6 of the public trust. Also, to challenge the authenticity7 or accuracy of a document.
in camera	In the judge's private chambers8, or in private. A hearing in camera takes place in the judge's office, outside of the presence of jury and public.
in forma pauperis (in FORM uh PAH per us)	In the manner of a pauper9. Permission given to an indigent10 or poverty-stricken individual to sue without payment of court fees.
in limine (LIM ih nee)	Motion requesting that court exclude certain evidence that might prejudice jury.
in personam (in per SO nam)	Procedural term used to designate proceedings11 or actions involving the personal rights and interests of the parties. Compare in rem.
in propria persona (in PRO2 pree uh per SO nuh)	See pro se.
in rem	Procedural term used to designate proceedings or actions in determining the status of a thing or the rights of persons with respect to that thing. Compare in personam.
inadmissible	That which under rules of evidence cannot be admitted as evidence.
incarcerate13	To confine in jail.
incompetent14	Person lacking the capacity, legal qualification or fitness to manage personal affairs or to discharge required duty.
indemnity15	Liability or loss shifted from one person held legally responsible to another.
independent executor	Executor who administers an estate with little intervention16 by court. Only a few states allow this.
indeterminate sentence	Sentence with specified17 minimum and maximum length, e.g., one to five years in prison. Also, a maximum sentence which may be reduced by a parole board, via statutory authorization18, after minimum term has been served.
indictment19	Formal written accusation20 by a grand jury charging a person with a crime. Compare charge, information and presentment.
indigent	Poor person. An individual who can demonstrate his/her indigence21 to the court may be assigned a court-appointed attorney or may not have to pay filing fees and court costs.
indirect evidence	See circumstantial evidence.
inferior court	Court of special, limited or statutory jurisdiction22. May also denote any court subordinate to chief appellate court. See limited jurisdiction.
information	Formal accusation of a crime filed by a prosecutor23 without a grand jury indictment. Compare charge and indictment.
infraction24	Violation of law usually not punishable by imprisonment25, e.g., minor26 traffic offenses27.
inheritance tax	State tax on property an heir or beneficiary receives from a deceased person's estate.
initial appearance	First appearance in court of a person who has been arrested, to hear charges read, be advised of rights and have bail28 determined29. Person generally comes before judge within hours of arrest. Also called first appearance. Compare arraignment30 and preliminary hearing.
injunction	Court order preventing or requiring a specific action. See preliminary injunction and permanent injunction.
instructions	Judge's directions/guidelines to jury regarding law which applies to the facts of a case. Also called charge. Compare binding32 instruction and directed verdict.
intake33	Court process whereby a decision is made on how to proceed in a juvenile34 case.
intangible assets	Nonphysical items such as patents, trademarks35, copyrights and good will.
integrated bar	State bar association to which a lawyer must belong in order to practice in that state.
inter12 alia (IN ter uh LEE uh)	Among other things.
inter vivos gift (IN ter VEE VOHS)	Gift made during giver's life.
inter vivos trust	See living trust.
interlocutory appeal	Appeal made before the trial court's final ruling on the entire case.
interlocutory decree	See decree.
interlocutory order	Any order given before the final order is issued. Usually cannot be appealed until case is fully36 resolved.
intermediate punishment	Set of sentencing options more severe than probation37, but not as severe as incarceration38. Includes, among other options, electronic monitoring, intensive supervision39, and residential40 drug and alcohol treatment. May or may not involve housing of offender41.
interpleader	Suit filed by a party holding property who does not know to whom the property should go, to determine who should receive the property.
interrogatories	Written questions questions submitted to another party in a lawsuit42 for which written answers must be provided. Party of discovery process.
intervention	Action by which a third person who may be affected43 by a lawsuit is permitted to become party to the suit. Compare third-party claim.
intestacy laws (in TES ta see)	See descent and distribution statutes44.
intestate	One who dies without leaving a will.
intestate succession	Process by which property of person who has died without a will or whose will has been revoked46 is distributed to others. Compare descent and distribution statutes.
irrelevant47	Evidence not related or applicable to an issue in a trial and thus not admissible.
irrevocable trust (ear REV31 o cuh b'l)	Trust that, once set up, grantor may not revoke45.
issue	Disputed point between parties in a lawsuit.
joinder	Joining parties or claims in a suit.
joint48 and several liability	Legal doctrine49 which makes any number of members of a party responsible for a liability, at adversary's discretion50.
joint tenancy	Form of legal co-ownership of property which gives the survivors51, when one of the owners dies, the rights to the decedent's shares of the property. Tenancy by the entirety is a special form of joint tenancy between husband and wife. Compare tenancy in common.
judge	Elected or appointed public official with authority to hear and decide cases in a court of law. A judge pro tem is a temporary or visiting judge.
judgment52	Final disposition53 of a lawsuit. Default judgment is judgment rendered because of defendant54 fails to answer or appear. Summary judgment is judgment entered when there is no dispute as to the facts of a case, and one party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. Consent judgment occurs when a judge sanctions an agreement reached between parties. See also declaratory judgment and non obstante veredicto.
judicial55 officer	An officer of a court; someone charged with upholding the law, administering the judicial system.
judicial review	Authority of court to review and declare unconstitutional actions of other branches of government.
Judiciary Act Repealer Act (JARA)	Act of 1978 that enacted56 42 Pa.C.S., Pennsylvania's Judicial Code.
juridical (juh RID ih kul)	Relating to law, judicial proceedings and administration of justice.
juridical day	Day on which a court is in session.
Juris Doctor	Doctor of Law. Law degree bestowed57 on those who have successfully graduated from law school.
jurisdiction	Court's authority to hear and/or decide a case. Also, territory for which a court is authorized58 to hear cases.
jurisprudence	Study of law and legal system. See also caselaw.
jurist	One who is skilled or versed59 in the law.
jury	Group of people selected according to law and sworn to decide questions of fact and render a decision about these matters. See grand jury and petit jury.
jury commissioner60	Court officer responsible for choosing the panel of potential jurors for a particular court term.
justiciable (jus TISH ee uh b'l)	Of issues and claims which may be properly examined in court.
juvenile	Person who has not yet reached age (usually 18) at which he/she can be treated as adult for purposes of criminal law.
juvenile court	Court having jurisdiction over cases involving children under a specific age, usually 18

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