It is a corruption of the Latin phrase "in propria persona.". A debt that should have been listed by the debtor in the schedules filed with the court but was not. exculpatory evidence - Evidence which tends to show the defendant’s innocence. To separate. The trustee may also bring actions against creditors or the debtor to recover property of the bankruptcy estate. The formal charge issued by a grand jury stating that there is enough evidence that the defendant committed the crime to justify having a trial; it is used primarily for felonies. A court decision in an earlier case with facts and legal issues similar to a dispute currently before a court. A log containing the complete history of each case in the form of brief chronological entries summarizing the court proceedings. in forma pauperis - In the manner of a pauper. A 27-judge body whose presiding officer is the Chief Justice of the United States. Serving as one's own lawyer. en banc - "In the bench" or "full bench." In a criminal case, the defendant's statement pleading "guilty" or "not guilty" in answer to the charges. The party who opposes an appellant's appeal, and who seeks to persuade the appeals court to affirm the district court's decision. Welcome to the legal definitions and legal terms dictionary of US Legal, Inc. damages - Money paid by defendants to successful plaintiffs in civil cases to compensate the plaintiffs for their injuries. Please feel free to browse our terms and definitions free of charge. Property that a debtor is allowed to retain, free from the claims of creditors who do not have liens on the property. Such statements are often taken to examine potential witnesses, to obtain discovery, or to be used later in trial. sentence - The punishment ordered by a court for a defendant convicted of a crime. The legal system that originated in England and is now in use in the United States, which relies on the articulation of legal principles in a historical succession of judicial decisions. (Example: If a house valued at $60,000 is subject to a $30,000 mortgage, there is $30,000 of equity.). You will notice once a term is defined there will be associated news and or court cases where the defined term is applicable.. Latin, meaning "in law." Judges will generally "follow precedent" - meaning that they use the principles established in earlier cases to decide new cases that have similar facts and raise similar legal issues. petit jury (or trial jury) - A group of citizens who hear the evidence presented by both sides at trial and determine the facts in dispute. For example, if the defendant argued on appeal that certain evidence should not have been used at trial, and the appeals court agrees, the case will be remanded in order for the trial court to reconsider the case without that evidence. temporary restraining order - Prohibits a person from an action that is likely to cause irreparable harm. clerk of court - An officer appointed by the court to work with the chief judge in overseeing the court's administration, especially to assist in managing the flow of cases through the court and to maintain court records. A trustee's or creditor's objection to the debtor's attempt to claim certain property as exempt from liquidation by the trustee to creditors. A bankruptcy case in which the debtor is a business or an individual involved in business and the debts are for business purposes. A judgment of guilt against a criminal defendant. Emancipated Minor: A person under the legal majority age of 18 who is granted most rights and legal privileges of an adult (C.G.S.§46b-150, et seq.). Also can refer to the amount of bond money posted as a financial condition of pretrial release. The delivery of writs or summonses to the appropriate party. In federal courts, the principal pleadings are the complaint and the answer. A penalty or other type of enforcement used to bring about compliance with the law or with rules and regulations. The chapter of the Bankruptcy Code providing for "liquidation," that is, the sale of a debtor's nonexempt property and the distribution of the proceeds to creditors. A person to whom or business to which the debtor owes money or that claims to be owed money by the debtor. In civil cases, a plaintiff generally has the burden of proving his or her case. A transfer of a debtor's property made with intent to defraud or for which the debtor receives less than the transferred property's value. [...] the purpose of balancing the outcome established in legal terms, nor assist with the wording of contracts for final [...] agreements. Such a plea is often made for purposes of negotiating a deal with the prosecutor for lesser charges or a sentence. The representative of the bankruptcy estate who exercises statutory powers, principally for the benefit of the unsecured creditors, under the general supervision of the court and the direct supervision of the U.S. trustee or bankruptcy administrator. (Assuming no conflicts of interest, these separate businesses or individuals can pool their resources, hire the same professionals, etc.). Priority refers to the order in which these unsecured claims are to be paid. When a mistrial is declared, the trial must start again with the selection of a new jury. Defendants will occasionally waive the right to a jury trial and choose to have a bench trial. A transfer of the debtor's property made after the commencement of the case. 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