Media Related Legal Terms

Accused:
The person charged with a criminal offence.

Ad hoc:
For a particular purpose.

Affidavit:
A written statement which is sworn to be true by the person signing it.

Appeal:
Challenge to a court decision in a higher court.

Attorney:
A person appointed to act for another person.

Attorney General:
Legal adviser to the Government.

Bail:
To pay, or promise to pay, an amount of money so that an accused person is not put in

Bailiff:
An officer of the court who carries out the court's orders.

Bar:
The collective term for barristers. When a person becomes a barrister it is called 'being called to the bar'.

Bench:
The name for the judges in a court.

Bona fide:
In good faith.

Caveat:
A formal warning.

Certiorari:
An order by the High Court that a case should be reviewed.

Charge sheet:
The document on which a garda records details of the accusation against a suspect.

Contempt:
Deliberate disregard of a court order.

Copyright:
A legal right which stops things being copied without permission.

Counterfeit:
Something that is forged or copied with the intention of deceiving.

Culpa:
A fault.

De facto:
In fact or in reality.

De jure:
Rightfully.

Decree:
Order by a court.

Deed:
A legal document which commits the person signing it to something.

Defamation:
Making a statement, either orally (slander) or in writing (libel) which damages someone's reputation.

Deponent:
A person who swears on oath that a statement is correct.prison before the trial.

Ex gratia:
Describing something done or given as a favour rather than a legal obligation

Habeas corpus:
A procedure to have a person brought before a court to enquire into the lawfulness of that person’s detention.

Indict:
Using legal means to officially accuse someone of committing an offence. Interim order
Temporary court order of limited duration.

Ipso facto:
By the mere fact.

Jurisdiction:
The territory in which a court can operate; or the power it has to deal with particular cases or the power it has to issue orders.

Jury:
A group of people, usually 12, who review all the evidence in a court case and then come to a verdict.

Lawsuit:
A claim made in a court of law.

Lease:
A contract between the owner of a property and a tenant, giving the tenant sole use of the property for an agreed time.

Libel:
A false statement made in writing or in some other permanent record.

Litigation:
Taking legal action through the courts.

Locus standi:
Person's right to take an action or be heard by a court.

Mala fides:
Bad faith.

Mandamus:
High Court order commanding an individual, organisation, administrative tribunal or court to perform a certain action usually to correct an earlier action or failure to fulfil some duty.

Notary:
A lawyer, usually a solicitor, who is authorised to certify documents, take affidavits and swear oaths.

Plaintiff:
The person who goes to court to make a claim against someone else.

Plead:
To declare to the court whether you are guilty or not guilty.

Power of attorney:
A document which gives power to the person appointed to act for the person who signed the document.

Prima facie:
On the face of it

Quo warranto:
By what authority.

Sedition:
Writing things or saying things which encourage people to rise up against the Government.

Sine die:
Indefinitely.

Slander:
Saying something untrue about a person.

Sub judice:
Something being dealt with by a court which cannot be discussed outside the court.

Subpoena:
A summons or order requiring the person to whom it is addressed to attend at a court on a specific date and at a stated time

Surety:
Someone who takes responsibility for someone else's debts or promises, and guarantees that they will be paid or done.

Testify:
Give evidence.

Treason:
The crime of betraying your country.

Tribunal:
A body set up to act like a court outside the normal court system. A forum to hear disputes and with the authority to settle them

Ultra vires:
Beyond one's powers.

Void:
Without legal effect.

Warrant:
A certificate which gives the person holding it the right to buy shares at a given price; a Judge's written instruction to arrest someone or to search a property.

Will:
A legal document which people use to leave as a gift money and property when they die.

Witness:
Someone who watches a signature being put on a document, and then signs as well to verify the signature's authenticity; or attends court to testify about events they know about

Writ:
A summons or order from a court of law.

Cer•ti•o•ra•ri:
   /ˌsɜrʃiəˈrɛəraɪ,
A writ issuing from a superior court calling up the record of a proceeding in an inferior court for review.,,