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Most Popular Legal Definitions

insanity

A disorder which impairs the human mind and prevents distinguishing between right and wrong.

rape

The act of having non-consensual sex with a woman.

counterclaim

a defendant's claim against a plaintiff

general deterrence

A sentencing objective which aims to discourage persons other than the offender from committing a similar offense. For example, harsh sentencing for being in possession of a firearm along with crack cocaine is meant to be a general deterrence towards the violent crime associated with distributing crack cocaine.

fourteenth amendment

An amendment to the U.S. Constitution as a part of the Civil War amendments designed to give full civil and legal rights to slaves, incorporated the Bill of Rights into state law, created the due process clause, and is known as the greatest expansion of individual rights since the Bill of Rights

overrule

1) providing a decision on a case that is in opposition to previous decisions 2) reject an opposition in a court proceeding 3) to nullify or make void 

unlawful assembly

The act of assembling for the purpose of starting a riot or breaching the peace.

sexual harassment

A term used in human rights legislation and referring primarily to harassment in employment situations, related to sex or gender, which detrimentally affects the working environment.

set

To schedule, as to "set a case for trial."

cross examination

in trials, each party calls witnesses; ask questions of the other party's witness(es) allowing considerably more latitude then when you question your own witnesses (called an 'examination-in-chief