sealing - The closure of court records to inspection, except
to the parties.
search and seizure,
unreasonable - In general, an
examination, without authority of law, of one's premises or person to find stolen property or
contraband.
search
warrant - An order issued by a
judge or magistrate commanding a sheriff, constable, or other officer to search a specified
location.
self-defense - The protection of one's person or property against
some injury attempted by another. The law of "self defense" justifies an act done in the reasonable belief of
immediate danger. When acting in justifiable self-defense, a person may not be punished criminally nor held
responsible for civil damages.
sentence
- The judgment formally pronounced by the
court upon the defendant after conviction in a criminal prosecution, imposing the punishment to be
inflicted.
suspended
sentence - A sentence ordered
by the court but not imposed, which gives the defendant an opportunity to complete probation.
sentence,
deferred - The court retains
jurisdiction to sentence the defendant at a later time.
separate
maintenance - Allowance
ordered to be paid by one spouse to the other for support while the spouses are living apart but not
divorced.
service of
process - Notifying a person
that he or she has been named as a party to a lawsuit or has been accused of some offense. Process consists of a
summons, citation or warrant, to which a copy of the complaint is attached. Subpoenas are court orders which, if
properly served, compel the attendance of the witness in court.
slander
- See Defamation.
small
claims - A civil dispute in
which the amounts of money involved is less than $2,000. Persons usually are not represented by lawyers in small
claims proceedings. Small claims are litigated in the small claims division of the District Court, or in the
Justice Court.
sovereign
immunity - The doctrine that a
government or governmental agency cannot be sued without consent.
|