Crown
Jewel -
A company's most valuable asset, esp. as valued when the company
is the subject of a hostile takeover.
Probate
Court
- A court
with the power to declare wills valid or invalid, to oversee
the administration of estates, and in some states, to appoint
guardians and approve adoptions of minors.
Common Law-The body of law
derived from judicial decisions, rather than from statutes or
constitutions.
Men
of Straw
- Hist. False witnesses who were paid to wander around
courts and give untrue testimony.
Life Tenant - a person who, until death, is beneficially
entitled to land; the holder of a life estate.
- the abrogation of policies
that separate people by race into institutions and facilities.
Expatriate
- to remove from the residence or allegiance to one's home native
country; to banish or exile.
Per Se - standing alone;
of, in, or by itself
Quid Pro Quo-"something
for something"; something exchanged for something else
with similar value
Homicide - the killing of one human by another.
Miscegenation
-
a marriage between persons of different races, formerly considered
illegal in some jurisdictions. Famous case on point: Loving
vs. Virginia (1967 U.S. Supreme Court Case which states
that laws prohibiting interracial marriages are unconstitutional).
Nolo Contendere
-
"I do not wish to contend;" no contest; in court it
means that the accused admits the facts but not necessarily
the circumstances of the case. It is possible to be found
"not guilty" on a no contest plea but it is rare.
Dictum
(latin) -
A statement of opinion or belief considered authoritative because
of the status or dignity of the person making it.
Obiter Dictum
(latin) -
(something said in passing) a judicial comment, not necessarily
relevant to the case but persuasive, made during the course
of delivering a judicial opinion. Referred to in short
as dictum. Obiter (by the way or incidentally).
Dictum (something spoken or written).
Parens
Patriae
- [Latin "parent of his or her country"]; the state
in its capacity as the provider of protection to those unable
to care for themselves. "The state is allowed to
bring a suit on behalf of another under the doctrine of parens
patriae."
Jury
Nullification -
The power and ability of a criminal trial jury, federal or state,
to acquit the person charged on the "facts" of the case; the
power and ability of the jury to declare the law illegal, unjustifiable
or unenforceable. "The jury can "nullify" the law.
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