Glossary of Legal Terms

English/Arabic
Term Definition Translation: Arabic
AID AND ABET (v) To help or assist in committing a crime. ‫ﯾﺴﺎﻋﺪ؛ ﯾﻤﮭﺪ ﯾﻌﯿﻦ ﻋﻠﻰ ارﺗﻜﺎب اﻟﺠﺮﯾﻤﺔ‬
ABATE (v) To put an end to; to cancel. ‫ﯾﺒﻄﻞ؛ ﯾﺴﻘﻂ؛ ﯾﻠﻐﻲ‬
ABUSE (v) To do physical, sexual or psychological harm ‫ﻲ اﺳﺘﻌﻤﺎل؛ ﯾﺘﺼﺮف ﺑﻄﺮﯾﻘﺔ ﻏﯿﺮ ﻣﺸﺮوﻋﺔ؛ ﯾﻮ’ذي ؛‬ ْ ‫ﯾﺴ‬
to someone.
‫ﯾﻀﺮ ﺷﺨﺼﺎ ﺟﻨﺴﯿﺎ او ﺟﺴﺪﯾﺎ او ﺟﺴﻤﺎﻧﻲ‬
ABUSE (n)
Improper use or harm. Ex: abuse of power;
spousal abuse.
ACCESSORY (n) A person who helps someone else commit a ‫ﻣﺴﺎﻋﺪ؛ ﺷﺮﯾﻚ ﻓﻲ ارﺗﻜﺎب اﻟﺠﺮﯾﻤﺔ‬
crime, either ‫ﻗﺒﻞ وﻗﻮﻋﮭﺎ اوﺑﻌﺪ وﻗﻮﻋﮭﺎ‬
- before the fact -before the crime
- after the fact -after the crime.
ACCOMPLICE (n) A person who helps someone else commit a ‫ﺷﺮﯾﻚ ﻓﻲ اﻟﺠﺮم‬
crime.
ACCUSATION (n) A formal charge against a person. ‫اﺗﮭﺎم؛ ﺗﮭﻤﺔ‬
ACCUSED (n) The person who is charged with a crime and ‫ﻣﺘﮭﻢ‬
has to go to criminal court. (See Defendant)
ACKNOWLEDGE (v) To say or testify that something is true. ‫ﯾﻌﺘﺮف؛ ﯾﻘﺮ‬
ACQUIT (v) To find a person charged with a crime not ‫ﯾﺒﺮى؛ ﯾﺨﻠﻲ ﻣﻦ ﻣﺘﺎﺑﻌﺔ او ﻣﻄﺎﻟﺒﺔ ؛ ﯾﻄﻠﻖ ﺳﺮاﺣﺔ‬
ْ
guilty. To set free or release a person who has
been accused of a crime.
ACQUITTAL (n) A decision by a judge or jury that a person on ‫اﺑﺮا ء؛ ﺑﺮاءة‬
trial is not guilty.
AD LITEM, GUARDIAN (n) A person appointed by the court to protect ‫وﺻﻲ ﺗﻌﯿﻨﮫ اﻟﻤﺤﻜﻤﺔ؛ وﻟﻲ ﺧﺼﻮﻣﺔ‬
the interests of a minor or a mentally
incompetent adult.

ADDICT (n) A person who is dependent on a drug or ‫ﻣﺪﻣﻦ ؛ ﻣﺘﻌﺎطﻲ ﻟﻠﻤﺨﺪرات‬

alcohol.
The condition of being addicted to a drug or
ADDICTION (n) alcohol.
‫ادﻣﺎن؛ ﺗﻌﺎطﻲ اﻟﻤﺨﺪرات‬
ADJOURN (v) To delay a court hearing until a later time. ‫ﯾﺆﺟﻞ؛ ﯾﻌﻠﻖ اﻟﻘﻀﯿﺔ‬
ADMISSIBLE EVIDENCE (n) Evidence that can be legally and properly used ‫دﻟﯿﻞ ﻣﻘﺒﻮل او ﻣﻌﻘﻮل‬
in court.
ADMISSION (n) Saying that certain facts are true, but not ‫ﻗﺒﻮل؛ اﻋﺘﺮاف؛ اﻗﺮار‬
saying that you are guilty. (see Confession)
ADVERSE WITNESS (n) A person called to testify for the other side. ‫ﺷﺎھﺪ ﻣﻨﺎھﺾ‬
AFFIDAVIT (n) A written statement made under oath in front ‫اﻓﺎدة ﻛﺘﺎﺑﯿﺔ ﻣﺸﻔﻮﻋﺔ ﺑﯿﻤﯿﻦ؛ إﻗﺮار ﻛﺘﺎﺑﻲ ﻣﺼﺤﻮب ﺑﻘﺴﻢ‬
of a legally authorized person, like a judge or a
notary public.
AFFIRM (v) To say that the lower court’s decision was (‫ﯾﺼﺪق؛ ﯾﺆﻛﺪ؛ ﯾﻘﺮ )ﺣﻜﻤﺎ ﻣﺴﺘﺄﻧﻔﺎ‬
correct.
AGENT (n) A person who acts for another person or ‫وﻛﯿﻞ؛ ﻧﺎﺋﺐ؛ ﻣﻔﻮض‬
legally represents him or her.
AGGRAVATED (adj) Adjective that describes circumstances of a ‫ﻣﺸﺪد اﻟﻌﻘﻮﺑﺔ؛ ﺑﺸﻊ وﻣﻨﻄﻮي ﻋﻠﻰ ﻋﻮاﻣﻞ ﺗﺰﯾﺪ ﻣﻦ‬
crime that may add to the degree of ‫ﺧﻄﻮرة اﻟﻔﻌﻞ‬
punishment (for example: aggravated murder
refers to a murder committed while
committing another crime);
-aggravated arson -Action of deliberately starting a fire with the ‫ﺣﺮﯾﻖ ذات ﺧﻄﻮرة ﺷﺪﯾﺪة‬
intent to cause injury or damage;
-aggravated battery -Use of force against another person with a
‫ﺿﺮب ﻣﺸﺪد‬
dangerous weapon.
ALLEGE (v) To say or claim that a crime has been ‫ﯾﺪﻋﻲ؛ ﯾﺰﻋﻢ؛ ﯾﻄﺎﻟﺐ‬
committed even though it is not proven.
ALLEGED (adj) Stated, claimed, asserted, charged. ‫ﻣﺰﻋﻮم‬
ALLEGATION (n) A statement that is made but has not yet been ‫زﻋﻢ‬
proven to be true or false.
ALIAS (n) Term used to indicate another name by which ‫اﻟﻤﻠﻘﺐ؛ اﻟﻤﻌﺮوف؛ اﻟﻤﻜﻨﻲ‬
a person is known.
ALIBI (n) A defense that places the defendant at the ‫اﺛﺒﺎت اﻟﺘﻐﯿﺐ ﻋﻦ اﻟﻤﻜﺎن )ﺗﻘﺪﯾﻢ ﺑﯿﺎﻧﺎت ﺗﻔﯿﺪ ﺑﺎن اﻟﻤﺘﮭﻢ‬
time of a crime in a different place than the ‫وﻗﺖ ارﺗﻜﺎب اﻟﺠﺮﯾﻤﺔ ﻛﺎن ﺑﻌﯿﺪا ﻋﻦ ﻣﻜﺎن وﻗﻮع‬
scene involved, so that he/she cannot possibly ‫اﻟﺠﺮﯾﻤﺔ ﺑﻌﺪا ﻻ ﯾﻌﻘﻞ ﻣﻌﮫ اﻣﻜﺎن اﻗﺘﺮاﻓﮫ ﻟﮭﺎ(؛ اﻟﺸﺎھﺪ ﻓﻲ‬
be guilty. ‫ھﺬه اﻟﺤﺎﻟﺔ ﯾﺴﻤﻰ ﺑﺸﺎھﺪ ﺣﺼﺮ‬
ALIMONY (n) Money the court orders one spouse to pay to ‫ﻧﻔﻘﺔ اﻟﺰوﺟﺔ‬
the other after a divorce.
ANONYMOUS (adj) Nameless, unknown, unsigned, lacking a ‫ﻏ� ﻣﻌﺮوف‬
‫ﻣﺠﻬﻮل؛ بﻼ ﺗﻮﻗﻴﻊ؛ ي‬
name.
APPEAR (v) To physically go to court. ‫ض‬
�‫�ﺤ‬
APPELLANT (n) A person who appeals a court’s decision. ‫اﻟﻤﺴﺘﺄﻧﻒ‬
APPELLEE (n) A person who answers an appeal to go to a ‫اﻟﻤﺴﺘﺄﻧﻒ ﺿﺪە‬
higher court.
ARGUMENT (n) Remarks made by an attorney to a judge or ‫ﺣﺠﺔ او ﻣﺮاﻓﻌﺔ‬
 jury about the facts of the case.
ARRAIGN (v) To bring an accused person before the court ‫ض‬
‫�ﺤ� او �ﺴﺘﺪ� ا� اﻟﻤﺤكﻤﺔ ﻟﻺﺟﺎبﺔ ﻋﻦ ﺗﻬﻤﺔ‬
to hear the criminal charges.
ARRAIGNMENT (n) Court appearance of the accused person, ‫اﺣﻀﺎر او اﺳﺘﺪﻋﺎء ﺷﺨﺺ ﻟﻺﺟﺎبﺔ ﻋﻦ ﺗﻬﻤﺔ‬
when he/she is told about the charges against
him/her and is asked to plead “guilty” or “not-
guilty.”
ARREARAGE (n) Amount of child support that is overdue or ‫ﻧﻔﻘﺔ ﻣﺘﺄﺧﺮة‬
unpaid.
ARREST (v) To keep a person in custody. (‫�ﻘبﺾ ﻋ�؛�ﺤﺠﺰ او ﻳﻮﻗﻒ )ﺗﻨﻔ�ﺬا ﻻﺻﺪار ﺣكﻢ‬

ARSON (n) Intentional burning of a house, commercial or ‫ﺣ��ﻖ ﻣﺘﻌﻤﺪ‬

industrial property.
ASSAULT (v) To try to hurt or threaten to hurt someone �‫اﻟﻐ‬
‫�ﻌﺘﺪي او ﻳﺘﻬﺠﻢ ﻋ� ي‬
else. (This is not battery. See BATTERY)
ASSAULT WITH A DEADLY WEAPON (n) Doing bodily harm without justification by use ‫اﻟﻐ� ﻣﻊ اﺳﺘﺨﺪام ﺳﻼح ﻗﺎﺗﻞ؛ ﺗﻬﺠﻢ‬
‫اﻋﺘﺪاء ﻋ� ي‬
of any weapon intended to do harm.
ATTEMPT (v) To try to do a criminal act or to commit a ‫�ﺤﺎول؛ �ﺴ� ﻟﻠﻘ�ﺎم بﻌﻤﻞ ﻣﺎء‬
crime
ATTORNEY (n) A legally trained person who represents ‫وﻛ�ﻞ او ﻣﺤﺎم‬
clients in court and gives them legal advice.
(See Lawyer, Counselor)
BAIL (n) A deposit of money given to release a ‫ﻛﻔﺎﻟﺔ او ﺿﻤﺎن‬
Defendant or witness to make sure he/she
returns to court.
BAILIFF (n) Person in charge of security in the courtroom. ‫ﺣﺎﺟﺐ ﻣﺤكﻤﺔ؛ ﻣﺄﻣﻮر ﻣﺤكﻤﺔ؛ ﻣﻔﻮض ﻣﺤكﻤﺔ‬
He/she assists the judge.
BANKRUPTCY (n) The condition of a person who is unable to (‫اﻓﻼس )ﻣﺎدي‬
pay his/her debts.
BATTERY (n) Illegal physical violence or control of a person ‫اﻟﻐ� ض‬
‫بﺎﻟ�ب‬ ‫اﻟﺘﻌﺪي ض‬
‫بﺎﻟ�ب؛ اﻻﻋﺘﺪاء ﻋ� ي‬
without his or her permission. (Compare with
ASSAULT)
�
BEYOND A REASONABLE DOUBT (Prep. In a criminal case, the jury must be convinced ‫�ﻘﻴﻨﺎ؛ ﻻ �ﺨﺎﻣﺮە اﻟﺸﻚ؛ ﻗﻄﻌﺎ و�كﻞ ﺗﺄ��ﺪ؛ بﻤﺎ ﻻ �ﻘبﻞ اﻟﺸﻚ‬
phrase) that every element of the crime has been
proven by the Prosecution.
BIND OVER (v) Action of a judge who decides before a trial ‫ﻛﺘﺎي بﺤﻀﻮر او ﺷﻬﺎدة‬
‫�ﻠﺰم او ﻳ��ﻂ )بﻜﻔﺎﻟﺔ(؛ �ﺎﺧﺬ ﺗﻌﻬﺪ ب ي‬
that there is enough evidence for a trial.
BLOOD ALCOHOL CONTENT (BAC) (n) The level of alcohol in your blood or breath ‫اﻟ�ﺤﻮ�؛‬
‫ي‬ ‫�ﺴبﺔ اﻟ�ﺤﻮل ف ي� اﻟﺪم؛ ﻣﺤﺘﻮى اﻟﺪم‬
‫ﻛ� اﻟ�ﺤﻮل ف ي� اﻟﺪم‬
� ‫ﺗﺮ ي‬
BLOOD TEST (n) A test of your blood to determine how much ‫ﻓﺤﺺ دم‬
alcohol or drugs are in your body. A test to
determine who is the parent of a child.
BOOK (v) Action of the police who arrest you, take your ‫�ﺤﺠﺰ؛ ﻳﻮﻗﻒ‬
BOOKING (n) fingerprints, photographs and personal ‫ﺣﺠﺰ؛ إ�ﻘﺎف‬
information.
BRANDISH A WEAPON (v) To show a weapon to another person, such as ‫�ﻠ�ح بﺎﻟﺴﻼح ؛ �ﺸﻬﺮ اﻟﺴﻼح ؛ ﻳﻬﺪد بﺎﻟﺴﻼح‬
the police or a victim.
BREAKING AND ENTERING (n) Going into someone’s house at night with ‫ﺳﻄﻮ ؛ ﻛ� او اﻗﺘﺤﺎم؛ دﺧﻮل اﻟﺒ�ﺖ بﺎﺳﺘﻌﻤﺎل اﻟﻘﻮة‬
intent to commit a serious crime. ‫ﻷﻏﺮاض اﻟ�ﻗﺔ او ارﺗكﺎب ﺟﻨﺎ�ﺔ‬
BREATHALYZER TEST (n) A test of your breath to determine the level of ‫ف‬
(‫ﻓﺤﺺ اﻟﻨﻔﺲ )ﻟﺘﺤﺪ�ﺪ �ﺴبﺔ اﻟ�ﺤﻮل ي� اﻟﺠﺴﻢ‬
alcohol in your body.
BRIBE (v) (n) To give money (or something of value) to ‫ﻳﺮﺷﻮ؛ رﺷﻮة‬
influence another person to do or not do
something.
BURDEN OF PROOF (n) The requirement that the plaintiff (the party ‫ﻋﺐء اﻻﺛبﺎت‬
bringing a civil lawsuit) show by a
"preponderance of evidence" or "weight of
evidence" that all the facts necessary to win a
judgment are presented and are probably
true.
BURGLARY (n) Act of unlawfully breaking into or entering a ‫اﻟﺴﻄﻮ ﻋ� اﻟﻤﻨﺎزل و�ﻗﺘﻬﺎ‬
building or home, with the intent to commit a
theft or other serious crime.
CAPACITY (n) A person’s legal or mental ability to make ‫أﻫﻠ�ﺔ؛ ﻗﺪرة‬
legal decisions.
CAPITAL CASE (n) A criminal case where the defendant may get ‫اﻟﻘﻀ�ﺔ اﻟﻘﺼﻮى‬
the death penalty.
CAPITAL CRIME (n) A crime punishable by death. ‫ﺟ��ﻤﺔ اﻋﺪام‬
CAPITAL OFFENSE (n) ‫ﺟ��ﻤﺔ اﻋﺪام‬

CAPITAL PUNISHMENT (n) Punishment by death. ‫اﻟﺠ��ﻤﺔ اﻟﻘﺼﻮى؛ ﻋﻘ��ﺔ اﻹﻋﺪام ؛ اﻟﻘﺼﺎص بﺎﻟﻤﻮت‬
CARJACKING (n) Action of taking a car/truck that belongs to ‫ﺧﻄﻒ او �ﻗﺔ اﻟﺴ�ﺎرات‬
someone else against his will, by means of
force or fear.
CASE (n) Lawsuit filed in criminal, civil or traffic court. ‫ﻗﻀ�ﺔ‬
CEASE AND DESIST ORDER (n) An order of an administrative agency or court ‫اﻣﺮ اﻟ�ﻒ او اﻟﺘﻮﻗﻒ او اﻟﻤﻨﻊ‬
prohibiting a person or business from
continuing to do something.
CERTIFIED COPY (n)
CHALLENGE (n) (v)
CHAMBERS (n)
CHANGE OF VENUE (n)
CHARACTER EVIDENCE (n)
CHARGE (n)
CHIEF JUDGE (n)
CHILD ABUSE (n)
CHILD ABDUCTION (n)
CHILD MOLESTATION (n)
CHILD SUPPORT (n)
CIRCUMSTANTIAL EVIDENCE (n)
CITATION (n)
CIVIL ACTION (n)
CIVIL RIGHTS VIOLATION (n)
CLAIM (n)
An official copy of a paper from a case file that ‫ﺻﻮرة او �ﺴﺨﺔ ﻣﺼﺪﻗﺔ‬
is marked as being true, complete, and a real
copy of the original legal case.
Someone’s right to object to or oppose an ‫ﻃﻌﻦ او ت‬
‫اﻋ�اض‬
accusation in a legal case. ‫�ﻄﻌﻦ او ت‬
‫�ﻌ�ض‬
A judge’s private office. ‫ض‬
‫اﻟﻘﺎ� اﻟﺨﺎص‬ ‫ﻣﻜﺘﺐ‬
‫ف‬ ‫ي‬
Moving a civil or criminal case from one court ‫ﺗﻐﻴ� ﻣكﺎن اﻟﻤﺤﺎ�ﻤﺔ )اﻟﻘﻀ�ﺔ( او اﻟﻨﻈﺮ ي� اﻟﺪﻋﻮى‬
‫ي‬
jurisdiction to another.
Evidence about a criminal defendant’s ‫ﺳ��ﺔ؛ ادﻟﺔ ﺗﺘﻌﻠﻖ �ﺴﻤﻌﺔ اﻟﻤﺘﻬﻢ‬
‫ﺑيﻨﺔ ي‬
character.
In criminal law, what the defendant is accused ‫ﺗﻬﻤﺔ؛ ﺟﺮم‬
of
Presiding or Administrative Judge in a court. ‫رﺋ�ﺲ اﻟﻤﺤكﻤﺔ‬
� �
Hurting a child physically, sexually or (‫اﻹﺳﺎءة ا� اﻻﻃﻔﺎل )ﺟنﺴ�ﺎ او ﺟﺴﺪ�ﺎ او ﻋﺎﻃﻔ�ﺎ‬
emotionally.
The offense of taking away a child by deceit ‫ﺧﻄﻒ اﻷﻃﻔﺎل‬
and persuasion, or by violence.
Any form of indecent or sexual activity on, ‫اﻟﺠن� ﻟﻸﻃﻔﺎل‬
‫ي‬ ‫اﻟﺘﺤﺮش‬
involving, or surrounding a child under the
age of 18.
Money paid by a parent to help support a ‫ﻧﻔﻘﺔ )ﻣﻌﻮﻧﺔ( اﻟﻄﻔﻞ‬
child or children.
‫)ﻏ� ش‬
(�‫ﻣبﺎ‬ ‫ﺑيﻨﺔ اﺳتﻨﺘﺎﺟ�ﺔ؛ دﻟ�ﻞ ف‬
Evidence in a trial which is not directly from ‫ﻇﺮ� ي‬
‫ي‬
an eyewitness or participant and which
requires some reasoning to prove a fact.
A court order or summons that tells ‫ئ‬
(‫ﻗﻀﺎئ‬ ‫ﻣﺬﻛﺮة دﻋﻮى او ﺣﻀﻮر )اﻣﺮ‬
‫ي‬
a defendant what the charges are. Also tells
the defendant to go to court and/or post bail.
An action brought to enforce or protect ‫ن‬
‫اﺟﺮاء ي‬
‫ﻣﺪي‬
private rights. Any action other than criminal
proceedings.
Violation of the personal rights guaranteed ‫اﻧﺘﻬﺎك او ﻣﺨﺎﻟﻔﺔ ﺣﻘﻮق ﻣﺪﻧ�ﺔ‬
and protected by the U.S. Constitution.
‫ش‬
‫��ء‬
The statement of a right to money or ‫ادﻋﺎء او ﻣﻄﺎﻟبﺔ ي‬
 property.
CLEAR AND CONVINCING EVIDENCE (n) Standard of proof commonly used in civil ‫اﺛبﺎت واﺿﺢ وﻣﻘﻨﻊ ﻻ ﻣﺠﺎل ﻓ�ﻪ ﻟﺸﻚ ﻣﻌﻘﻮل‬
lawsuits. It governs the amount of proof that
must be offered in order for the plaintiff to
win the case.
CLERICAL ERROR (n) An unintentional mistake, in writing, which ‫ﺧﻄﺄ او ﻏﻠﻂ ب ي‬
‫ﻛﺘﺎي‬
may be made by a clerk, counsel, or court.
CLERK (n) Officer of the court who files pleadings, ‫كﺎﺗﺐ‬
COURT CLERK (n) motions, judgments, etc., issues process, and ‫كﺎﺗﺐ ﻣﺤكﻤﺔ؛‬
keeps records of court proceedings.
CLOSING ARGUMENT (n) Counsel’s final statement to the judge/and or ‫اﻟﺤﺠﺔ اﻟﺨﺘﺎﻣ�ﺔ‬:‫اﻟﻤﺮاﻓﻌﺔ اﻟﺨﺘﺎﻣ�ﺔ‬
jury after all parties have presented all their
evidence.
CODE (n) Book that contains all the laws. Ex: Labor ‫ين‬
‫ﻗﻮاﻧن واﻧﻈﻤﺔ‬ ‫ﻣﺠﻤﻮﻋﺔ‬
Code, Civil Code, Criminal Code.
CO-DEFENDANT (n) In a criminal case, a person charged with ‫ش��ﻚ ف ي� اﻟﺘﻬﻤﺔ‬
involvement in the same crime as another.
COERCION (n) Forcing someone to do something by threat. ‫اﺟبﺎر او ا�ﺮاە‬
COHABITATION (n) Living with another person ‫ﺗﻌﺎ�ﺶ‬
COMMIT (v) To do something illegal, “to commit” a crime ‫ﻳﺮﺗﻜﺐ ﺟ��ﻤﺔ‬
COMMITMENT (n) The action of sending a person to prison or a ‫ا�ﺪع او وﺿﻊ ﺷﺨﺺ ض ي� ﺳﺠﻦ او ﻣﻌﺘﻘﻞ‬
mental institution.
‫ف‬
COMMITMENT ORDER (n) The order directing an officer to take a person ‫اﻣﺮ ح ﺣبﺲ؛ اﻣﺮ إ�ﺪاع ي� ﺣبﺲ او ﺳﺠﻦ‬
to prison or to a mental institution.
COMMON LAW (n) Laws that come from court decisions and not ‫اﻟﻘﺎﻧﻮن اﻟﻌﺎم‬
from statutes, “codes, ” or constitutions.
COMMUNITY OBLIGATIONS (n) Debts that a husband and wife owe together. ‫دﻳﻦ ت‬
‫ﻣﺸ�ك‬
COMMUNITY PROPERTY (n) Everything that a husband and wife own ‫ت‬
‫أﻣﻮال ﻣﺸ�ﻛﺔ‬
together. Anything either spouse bought with
money earned during the marriage.
COMMUNITY SERVICE (n) Work performed as punishment for a crime. It ‫ﺧﺪﻣﺔ ﻣﺠﺘﻤﻊ؛ ﺧﺪﻣﺔ )ﻣﺠﺘﻤﻌ�ﺔ( ت‬
‫ﻣﺸ�ﻛﺔ‬
may also be performed instead of a fine, or as
a condition of probation.
COMMUTATION (n) The reduction of a prison sentence, such as ‫ﺗﺨﻔ�ﻒ ﻋﻘ��ﺔ؛ ﺗبﺪ�ﻞ ﻋﻘ��ﺔ‬
COMMUTE (v) from 10 years to 5 years. �‫�ﻐ‬
‫�ﺨﻔﻒ ﻋﻘ��ﺔ؛ ﻳبﺪل؛ ي‬
COMPENSATORY DAMAGES (n) Money that one person must pay another to ‫ﺗﻌ��ﻀﺎت ﻣﺎد�ﺔ ﻣكﺎﻓﺌﺔ‬
DAMAGES (n) cover the cost of a wrong or injury.
COMPETENCY ORDER (n) An order from a court that says that a ‫اﻣﺮ بﺼﻼﺣ�ﺔ؛ اﻣﺮ ذو أﻫﻠ�ﺔ ﻗﺎﻧﻮﻧ�ﺔ‬
defendant is mentally able to go to trial.
COMPETENCY (n) The ability of a person to understand ‫أﻫﻠ�ﺔ؛ ﺻﻼﺣ�ﺔ؛ ﻗﺪرة؛ ﻟ�ﺎﻗﺔ ﻗﺎﻧﻮﻧ�ﺔ‬
and communicate, especially with regard to
standing trial and assisting counsel in his or
her defense.
COMPLAINANT (n) Person who wants to start a court case �‫اﻟﻤﺸﺘ‬
‫ي‬ ‫اﻟﺸﺎ�؛ اﻟﻤﺘﻈﻠﻢ او‬
‫ي‬
against another person. In a civil case, the
complainant is the PLAINTIFF. In a criminal
case, the complainant is the STATE.
COMPLAINT (n) ‫ﺷﻜﻮى؛ دﻋﻮى؛ ﺗﻈﻠﻢ‬
The legal document that usually begins a civil
lawsuit or a criminal case.

CONCEALMENT (n) Withholding information which one is ‫إﺧﻔﺎء؛ ﻛﺘﻤﺎن‬

required to reveal.
CONCURRENT SENTENCES (n) Sentences you can serve at the same time. ‫ﻣ�اﻣﻨﺔ؛ اﺣكﺎم ﻋﻘ��ﺔ ت‬
‫ﻣﺸ�ﻛﺔ‬ ‫اﺣكﺎم ﻣﺘﻼزﻣﺔ او ت ن‬
CONFESSION (n) ‫اﻗﺮار؛ ت‬
‫اﻋ�اف‬
When a person admits orally or in writing that
he/she committed an offense or a crime.
CONFIDENTIAL RECORD (n) Information in a court case that is not ‫ﺑ�ﺎن �ي؛ ﻣﻌﻠﻮﻣﺎت او ﺳﺠﻼت ��ﺔ‬
available to the public.
CONFISCATE (v) Action of taking away property temporarily �‫�ﺴﺘﻮ� ﻋ‬
‫ي‬ ‫�ﺼﺎدر؛ �ﺤﺠﺰ؛‬
for security or legal reasons.
CONFRONTATION RIGHT (n) ‫ﺣﻖ اﻟﻤﻮاﺟﻬﺔ‬
Defendant’s right to be face-to-face with the
witnesses against him or her.

CONSECUTIVE SENTENCES (n) Successive sentences, one beginning at the ‫اﺣكﺎم ﻋﻘ��ﺔ ﻣﺘﺘﺎﻟ�ﺔ؛ اﺣكﺎم ﻋﻘ��ﺔ ﻣﺘﺘﺎبﻌﺔ‬
end of another, imposed against a person
convicted of two or more violations.
CONSENT (n) A written agreement to obey a decision or ‫ﻗﺒﻮل؛ ﻣﻮاﻓﻘﺔ؛رﺿﺎ‬
deal.
CONSPIRACY (n) When two or more persons agree to commit a ‫ﻣﺆآﻣﺮة؛ ﻣﻜ�ﺪة‬
crime.
CONSTITUTION (n) The rules, principles and descriptions of the �‫اﻻﺳﺎ‬
‫ي‬ ‫اﻟﺪﺳﺘﻮر؛ اﻟﻘﺎﻧﻮن‬
government’s power, and the main rights that
the people of a country or state have.
CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT (n)
CONTEMPT OF COURT (n)
CONTINUANCE (n)
CONTRACT(n)
CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE (n)
CONVICT (n)
A right guaranteed by the U. S. Constitution, ‫ﺣﻖ دﺳﺘﻮري‬
interpreted by the federal courts.
Disobeying a court order. Punishment can be ‫ﺗﺤﻘ� او اﺣﺘﻘﺎر‬
‫ي‬ ‫ﻋﺼ�ﺎن اﻟﻤﺤكﻤﺔ؛ اﻧﺘﻬﺎك ﺣﺮﻣﺔ اﻟﻤﺤكﻤﺔ؛‬
a fine or jail. ‫اﻟﻤﺤكﻤﺔ‬
Delaying a court case to a later date. ‫ض‬
‫ﺗﺄﺟ�ﻞ اﻟﻨﻈﺮ ي� اﻟﻘﻀ�ﺔ ا� ﻣﻮﻋﺪ آﺧﺮ‬
-An agreement between two or more people ‫ﻋﻘﺪ؛ اﺗﻔﺎق‬
to do or not to do a particular thing;
-An agreement between two or more people
that makes, changes, or ends a legal
relationship.
A drug or chemical whose manufacture, ‫ﻋﻘﺎﻗ� ﻣﺤﻈﻮرة‬
‫ي‬ ‫ﻣﺎدة )ﻣﺤﻈﻮرة(؛‬
possession, or use is regulated by a
government, such as illicitly used drugs or
prescription medications that are designated
by law.
A person who has been found guilty of a crime ‫ﻣﺪان؛ ﺷﺨﺺ ﻣﺤﻜﻮم ﻋﻠ�ﻪ بﺎﻟﺴﺠﻦ‬
and is serving a sentence for that crime; a
prison inmate.

CONVICT (v) To find a person guilty of an offense by either

a trial or a plea of guilty
CONVICTION (n) Decision by a judge or jury when they find a ‫اداﻧﺔ؛ ﻗﺮار اداﻧﺔ‬
criminal defendant guilty.
COUNSEL (n) Lawyer, attorney, legal representative ‫ن‬
‫ﻗﺎﻧﻮي او ﻫﻴﺌﺔ اﺳتﺸﺎر�ﺔ‬ ‫ﻣﺴتﺸﺎر‬
‫ي‬
COUNT (n) Each separate charge in a criminal case. ‫ﻓﻘﺮة اﺗﻬﺎﻣ�ﺔ؛ ﻣﺎدة ﻣﻦ ﻣﻮاد اﻻﺗﻬﺎم‬
COUNTERFEIT (v) To forge, to copy or imitate, without authority ‫ﻳﺰور؛ ﻳ��ﻒ‬
or right, and with the purpose to deceive by
passing off the copy as genuine.
COURT APPOINTED COUNSEL (n) A defense attorney assigned by the court to ‫ن‬
‫ﻗﺎﻧﻮي‬ ‫ﻣﺴتﺸﺎر ي ن‬
‫ﻣﻌن ﻣﻦ اﻟﻤﺤكﻤﺔ؛ ﻣﺴتﺸﺎر ﻣﺤكﻤﺔ‬
‫ي‬
represent a defendant who cannot afford to
hire an attorney.

COURT (OR BENCH) TRIAL (n) A trial without a jury. A judge decides the ‫ﻣﺤﺎ�ﻤﺔ ﻋﺎد�ﺔ ﺗﺠﺮي اﻣﺎم ﻗﺎض ﻣﻨﻔﺮد‬
case.
CRIME (n) Something you do, or don’t do, that breaks a ‫ﺟ��ﻤﺔ؛ ﺟﺮم‬
law.
CRIMINAL (n) Someone convicted of a felony or a ‫ﻣﺠﺮم؛ ﻣﺪان بﺠ��ﻤﺔ‬
misdemeanor.
CRIMINAL INSANITY (n) Lack of mental ability to do or keep from �‫ﻋﻘ‬ ‫ئ‬
‫ﺟﻨﺎئ؛ ﺧﻠﻞ‬ ‫ﺟﻨﻮن‬
‫ي‬ ‫ي‬
doing a particular act; not able to distinguish
right from wrong.
CRIMINAL RECORD (n) Arrest record. A written account listing all the ‫ئ‬
‫ﺟﻨﺎئ‬ ‫ﺳﺠﻞ‬
‫ي‬
instances in which a person has been
arrested.
A form completed by a police officer when a
person is arrested.
DAMAGES (n) Money that the losing side must pay to the (‫ﻏ� ﻣﺎد�ﺔ‬ ‫ﺗﻌ��ﻀﺎت او ض‬
‫ا�ار )ﻣﺎد�ﺔ او ي‬
winning side for losses or injuries.
DEADLY WEAPON (n) Any weapon, instrument or object that is ‫ﺳﻼح ﻗﺎﺗﻞ او ﺧﻄﺮ؛ ﺳﻼح ﻓﺘﺎك‬
capable of being used to inflict death or great
bodily injury.
DEATH PENALTY (n) Death imposed by the government as ‫ﻋﻘ��ﺔ اﻹﻋﺪام؛ ﺣكﻢ اﻹﻋﺪام‬
punishment for a serious crime.
DECEDENT (n) ‫ف‬
‫ﻣﺘﻮ�؛ ﻣ�ﺖ‬
In criminal law, a murder victim; in civil law, a
dead person.

DEFENDANT (n) In a civil case, the person or company being ‫اﻟﻤﺪ� ﻋﻠ�ﻪ‬
sued. In a criminal or traffic case, the person
accused of the crime.
DEFENSE ATTORNEY (n) In a criminal case, the lawyer that represents ‫ﻣﺤﺎم اﻟﺪﻓﺎع‬
the accused person (the “defendant”).
DELIBERATE (v) To consider all the evidence related to a ‫ﻳتﺸﺎور او ﻳﺘﺪاول )اﻻﻣﺮ(؛ ﻳﺘﻔﺤﺺ )ﻟﻠﻮﺻﻮل ا� رأي(؛‬
case that was presented in court. � ‫ف ش‬
‫�ﻤﻌﻦ اﻟﻨﻈﺮ ي� اﻟ ي‬
DEPORTATION (n) The act of removing a person to another ‫�ﺴﻔ� ﻗﻬﺮي‬ ‫ﻧ�؛ ﻃﺮد؛‬ ‫ف‬
‫ي‬ ‫ابﻌﺎد؛ ي‬
country. An order issued by an immigration
judge, expelling an illegal resident from the
United States.
DEPOSITION (n) Written or oral testimony given under oath in ‫اﻓﺎدة او ﺷﻬﺎدة ﻣﺸﻔﻮﻋﺔ بﺎﻟﻘﺴﻢ‬
front of an authorized third person like a court
reporter or attorney.
DETENTION (n) When a person is temporarily kept in jail until ‫ﺣﺠﺰ‬
the court makes a final decision.
DIRECT EVIDENCE (n) Evidence in the form of a witness’s testimony, ‫ﻣبﺎ�؛ ﺑيﻨﻪ او ﺷﻬﺎدة ش‬
‫ﻣبﺎ�ة‬ ‫دﻟ�ﻞ ش‬
who actually saw, heard, or touched the
subject in question.
DISCOVERY (n) The gathering of information (facts, ‫ﻛﺸﻒ؛ اﺳﺘﻄﻼع‬
documents or testimony) before a case goes
to trial.
DISCRIMINATION (n) Unfair treatment or denial of normal �‫ي‬
‫ﺗﻤﻴ�؛ ﻣﺤﺎبﺎة؛ ﻋﺪم ﻣﺴﺎواة‬
privileges on the basis of sex, age, race,
nationality, religion or handicap.
DISMISS (v) To terminate a legal action involving ‫ئ‬
‫ﻧﻬﺎئ‬
‫ﻳﺮد )ﻃﻠبﺎ او دﻋﻮى( �ﺸكﻞ ي‬
outstanding charges against a defendant in a
criminal case.
DISMISSAL WITH PREJUDICE (n) Action of a court when it dismisses a case and � ‫رد دﻋﻮى ﺑ ي‬
�‫ﺘﺤ‬
will not allow any other suit to be filed on the
same claim in the future.

DISMISSAL WITHOUT PREJUDICE (n)
DISORDERLY CONDUCT (n)
DISSOLUTION (n)
DISTURBING THE PEACE (n)
DIVORCE (n)
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE (n)
DOMICILE (n)
DRIVING WHILE INTOXICATED (DWI) (n)
DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE (DUI) (n)
DRUNK DRIVING (n)
When a court dismisses a case but will allow ‫رد دﻋﻮى بﺪون ي ن‬
�‫ﺗﺤ‬
other suits to be filed on the same claim.
Any behavior, contrary to law, which disturbs ‫ﺳﻠﻮك ﻣﺨﺎﻟﻒ ﻟﻶداب اﻟﻌﺎﻣﺔ؛ ﺳﻠﻮك ﻣﺨﻞ بﺎﻟﻨﻈﺎم او‬
the public peace. ‫اﻟﺴﻼم اﻟﻌﺎم‬
The act of terminating a marriage. ‫ﺣﻞ؛ ﻓﺴﺦ؛ ابﻄﺎل‬
Conduct which tends to annoy other people, ‫ﺗﻌﻜ� اﻻﻣﻦ؛ اﺧﻼل بﺎﻻﻣﻦ‬‫ي‬
including making unnecessary and distracting
noise.
The common name for a marriage that is ‫ﻃﻼق‬
legally ended.
An assault committed by one member of a ‫اﻟﻌﻨﻒ نن‬
�‫اﻟﻤ� ي‬
household against another
The place where a person has his/her ‫نن‬
‫ﻣ�ل؛ ﻣﺤﻞ اﻗﺎﻣﺔ‬
permanent legal home.
The unlawful operation of a motor vehicle ‫ﺗﺄﺛ� اﻟ�ﺤﻮل او اﻟﻤﺨﺪرات‬
‫ﻗ�ﺎدة اﻟﺴ�ﺎرة ﺗﺤﺖ ي‬
while under the influence of drugs or alcohol. ‫اﻟﻤﺨﺪرات‬/‫ﺗﺄﺛ� اﻟ�ﺤﻮل‬‫ﻗ�ﺎدة اﻟﺴ�ﺎرة ﺗﺤﺖ ي‬
‫اﻟﻤﺨﺪرات‬/‫ﺗﺄﺛ� اﻟ�ﺤﻮل‬
‫ﻗ�ﺎدة اﻟﺴ�ﺎرة ﺗﺤﺖ ي‬

DURESS (n) Any illegal imprisonment or threats of bodily ‫ارﻏﺎم؛ ﻗﻬﺮ؛ اﺟبﺎر؛ ا�ﺮاە؛ ﺣبﺲ‬
harm in order to coerce the will of another
and induce him/her to do an act contrary to
his/her free will.
EMBEZZLE (v) To take property from a person to whom the ‫�ﺴﺘﻮ� ﻋ�؛ ﻳبﺪد‬
‫ي‬ ‫�ﺨﺘﻠﺲ؛‬
property has been entrusted.
ENTER A GUILTY PLEA (v) To file a formal statement with the court that ‫اﻗﺮار بﺎﻟﺬﻧﺐ‬
the accused admits committing the criminal
act.
EVICT (v) To expel a person from a property with ‫�ﺠ� ﻋ� اﺧﻼء )ﻣكﺎن(؛ �ﻄﺮد بﺎﻟﻄﺮق اﻟﻘﺎﻧﻮﻧ�ﺔ‬
‫�ﺨ�؛ ب‬
‫ي‬
especially with the support of the law.

EVICTION (n) The act of removing a person from a premise ‫اﺧﻼء؛ ا�ﺮاە ﺷﺨﺺ ﻋ� اﺧﻼء ﻋﻘﺎر‬
with a court judgment.
EXCESSIVE FORCE (n) The use of an unreasonable amount of force ‫ﻗﻮة زاﺋﺪة ﻋﻦ اﻟﺤﺎﺟﺔ؛ ﻗﻮة ﻣﻔﺮﻃﺔ؛ ﻗﻮة ﺗﺘﺠﺎوز اﻟﺤﺪ‬
by a police officer. ‫اﻟﻤﻌﻘﻮل‬
EXCLUSIONARY RULE (n) The rule preventing illegally obtained ْ
‫ﻗﺼﺎء‬ ‫ﺣكﻢ اﻻ‬
evidence to be used in a trial.
EXCULPATORY EVIDENCE (n) Evidence which tends to indicate that a ‫ادﻟﺔ ﻧﺎﻓ�ﺔ‬
defendant did not commit the alleged crime.
EXECUTE (v) To carry out all terms of a contract or court ‫ﻳﻨﻔﺬ؛ ﻳﻮﻗﻊ ﻋ�؛ ﻳﻮﻗﻊ ﻋﻘ��ﺔ اﻻﻋﺪام‬
order; to sign a document; to kill.
EXECUTION (n) A court order given to a sheriff authorizing �‫ﺗﻨﻔ�ﺬ او ﺗﻮﻗﻴﻊ ﻋ‬
him/her to carry out the court’s judgment.
EXONERATE (v) To clear of blame or responsibility. ‫�ﺤﻞ ﻣﻦ ﻣﺴﺆوﻟ�ﺔ؛ �ﻌﺘﻖ ﻣﻦ ذﻧﺐ‬
EX PARTE PROCEEDING (n) A legal proceeding in which only one side is ‫اﺟﺮاءات ﻗﺎﻧﻮﻧ�ﺔ ﻣﻦ ﺟﺎﻧﺐ واﺣﺪ؛ ﺗﻤﺜ�ﻞ اﺣﺎدي )ﻣﻦ ﻃﺮف‬
represented. (‫واﺣﺪ‬

EXPUNGEMENT (n) Official erasure of a criminal record or partial ‫ﻣﺤﻮ؛ ﺷﻄﺐ‬

contents of a criminal record.
EXTORTION (n) ‫اﻧ�اع؛ ت ن‬
‫اﺑ�از‬ ‫تن‬
The act of obtaining the property of another
person through wrongful use of actual or
threatened force, violence, or fear.

EXTRADITION (n) Bringing a person that is in custody in one ‫يف‬

‫اﻟﻔﺎر�ن‬ ‫ين‬
‫اﻟﻤﺘﻬﻤن‬ ‫�ﺴﻠ�ﻢ‬
state or country to the authorities of another
state or country where that person has been
accused or convicted of a crime.
EYE WITNESS (n) A person who actually saw the act, fact, or ‫ﺷﺎﻫﺪ ﻋ�ﺎن‬
transaction to which he/she testifies.
‫ض‬
FAILURE TO APPEAR (n) The act of not appearing in court after being ‫رﻓﺾ اﻟﺤﻀﻮر؛ ﻓﺸﻞ ي� اﻟﻤﺜﻮل اﻣﺎ اﻟﻤﺤكﻤﺔ‬
presented with a subpoena or summons.
FAILURE TO COMPLY (n) The act of not following an order that is given ‫رﻓﺾ اﻻﻣﺘﺜﺎل؛ رﻓﺾ اﺗبﺎع اﻻواﻣﺮ‬
by the court or police.
FEE WAIVER (n) Permission not to pay the court’s filing fees. ‫اﻋﻔﺎء ﻣﻦ دﻓﻊ اﻟﺮﺳﻮم‬
People with very low income can ask the court
clerk for a fee waiver form.

FELONY (n) A serious crime that can be punished by more ‫ﺟﻨﺎ�ﺔ؛ ﺟ��ﻤﺔ‬
than one year in prison or by death.
FELONY MURDER (n) A murder committed during the commission ‫ﻗﺘﻞ ﻣﻊ ﺟﻨﺎ�ﺔ؛ ﺟﻨﺎ�ﺔ أدت ا� ﻗﺘﻞ‬
of a felony such as robbery, burglary, or
kidnapping.
FIFTH AMENDMENT (n) You cannot be forced to testify against ‫اﻟﺘﻌﺪ�ﻞ اﻟﺨﺎﻣﺲ‬
yourself in court. You have the right to refuse
to answer a question that might incriminate
your.
FILE (v) When a person officially gives a paper to a ‫ﻣﻠﻒ اﻟﻘﻀ�ﺔ؛ اﺿبﺎرة‬
court clerk and that paper becomes part of
the record of a case.
FIND GUILTY (v) When the judge or jury determines the guilt ‫ﻳثبﺖ اداﻧﺔ اﻟﺸﺨﺺ‬
of the defendant.
FINE (n) (‫ﻏﺮاﻣﺔ؛ ﻋﻘ��ﺔ )ﻣﺎد�ﺔ‬
The money a person must pay as punishment
for doing something illegal or for not doing
something they were supposed to do.

FINGERPRINTS (n) ‫بﺼﻤﺎت اﻻﺻﺎﺑﻊ‬

The distinctive pattern of lines on human
fingertips that are used as a method of
identification in criminal cases.

FIREARM (n) ‫ﺳﻼح ﻧﺎري‬

A weapon such as a rifle, shotgun or revolver

FORFEIT (v) (‫�ﺨ� )ﻣﺎﻻ او ﺣﻘﺎ‬

To lose or lose the right to something.

FORGERY (n) To use someone else’s name and claim it is (‫ﺗﺰو�ﺮ )ﺷﻬﺎدة او اﺳﻢ‬
yours.

FOSTER CARE (n) A program that gives money to a person, ‫اﻟﻐ� )ﻣﻦ اﻷوﻻد(؛ اﻟﺮﻋﺎ�ﺔ اﻟبﺪ�ﻠﺔ ﻟﻼوﻻد‬
‫ﺗنﺸﺌﺔاو ﺗ���ﺔ ي‬
 family, or institution to raise someone else’s
child.

FOURTEENTH AMENDMENT (n) All persons born or naturalized in the United ‫اﻟﻤﺎدة اﻟﺮابﻌﺔ ش‬
‫ﻋ� ﻣﻦ ﻗﺎﻧﻮن ﺗﻌﺪ�ﻞ اﻟﺪﺳﺘﻮر‬
States—including former slaves—are
guaranteed equal protection of the laws.

FRAUD (n) Wrongful or criminal deception intended to ‫ﺗﺤﺎ�ﻞ او ﻧﺼﺐ‬

result in financial or personal gain.

GAMBLING (n) The act of betting money, or other thing of ‫ﻣﻘﺎﻣﺮة‬

value, in a game of chance.

GRAND JURY (n) A group of 16 to 23 citizens who listen to the ‫ﻛ�ى‬ ‫يف‬
‫ﻣﺤﻠﻔن ب‬ ‫ﻫﻴﺌﺔ‬
prosecutor’s evidence of criminal allegations
and decide whether there is probable cause to
believe a person committed a crime and to
charge them with that crime.
GRAND THEFT (n) Taking the personal property of another ‫ﻛ�ى‬
‫�ﻗﺔ ب‬
person of a value in excess of an amount set
by law with the intent to deprive the owner of
it permanently. Often used for car theft.

GREAT BODILY INJURY (n) Injury which involves a substantial risk of (‫)ﺧﻄ�ة‬
‫ي‬ ‫إﺻﺎبﺎت بﺪﻧ�ﺔ‬
death, serious permanent disfigurement, or
loss of function of any part of an organ of the
body. This is a more serious than ordinary
battery.

GROSS NEGLIGENCE (n) A negligent act which is reckless, which ‫اﻫﻤﺎل ﺟﺴ�ﻢ او ﻓﺎدح‬
departs from the conduct of an ordinary,
prudent person, and is contrary to a proper
regard for human life.
GUARDIAN (n) A person appointed by law to assume �‫و‬
‫و�؛ ي‬
‫ي‬
responsibility for incompetent adults or minor
children.
GUARDIAN AD LITEM (n) An adult appointed by a court who represents ‫و� ﻋ� اﻟﻘﺎ� ض ي� ﻗﻀ�ﺔ‬
‫ي‬
a minor child or legally incompetent person.
GUILTY (adj) A court decision that a defendant committed ‫ﻣﺬﻧﺐ ؛ آﺛﻢ‬
 a crime.

GUILTY PLEA (n) When a person admits in court that he/she is ‫اﻗﺮار بﺎﻟﺬﻧﺐ‬
guilty of a crime.

HANDCUFFS (n) Chains or shackles to secure a prisoner’s ‫ﻗﻴﻮد؛ اﻏﻼل‬

hands.

HARASSMENT (n) Words, gestures, and actions which tend to ‫ﻣﻀﺎ�ﻘﺔ؛ ازﻋﺎج ﻣﺴﺘﻤﺮ‬
annoy, alarm, and verbally abuse another
person.

HEARING (n) A formal court proceeding with the judge and ‫ﺟﻠﺴﺔ اﺳﺘﻤﺎع‬
opposing sides present, but no jury.

HEARSAY (n) Statements by a witness who did not see or �‫اﻟﻐ‬

‫ﺷﻬﺎدة اﻟﺴﺎﻣﻊ بﻤﺎ ﺳﻤﻊ ﻣﻦ ي‬
hear the incident in question, but heard about
it from someone else. Hearsay usually can’t be
used as evidence in court.

HEIR (n) A person that has the right to inherit money ‫وارث؛ ور�ﺚ‬
or property from someone who dies with or
without a will.

HIT AND RUN (n) Crime in which the driver of a vehicle leaves ‫ﺟ��ﻤﺔ �ﺼﺪم و�ــﻬﺮب‬
the scene of an accident without identifying
him/herself.

HOMICIDE (n) The unlawful killing of one human being by ‫اﻟﻐ� او اﻣﺎﺗﺘﻪ‬
‫ﻗﺘﻞ ي‬
another.

HOSTILE WITNESS (n) A witness whose testimony is not favorable to ‫ﺷﺎﻫﺪ ﻣﻀﺎد‬
the party who calls him/her as a witness.

HUNG JURY (n) ‫يف‬

‫ﻣﺤﻠﻔن ﻣﻨﻘﺴﻤﺔ‬ ‫ﻫﻴﺌﺔ‬
A jury whose members cannot agree upon a
verdict.

IGNORANCE OF FACT (n) The lack of knowledge of some fact relating to ‫ﺟﻬﻞ او ﻋﺪم اﺣﺎﻃﻪ بﺎﻟﺤﻘﺎﺋﻖ‬
the subject matter at hand. May sometimes
 be used as a defense.
ILLEGAL (adj) Against the law ‫ف‬
‫ﻗﺎﻧﻮي‬ �‫ﻏ‬
‫ي‬ ‫ﻣﺨﺎف ﻟﻠﻘﺎﻧﻮن؛ ي‬
IMMUNITY (n) A right to be excused from a duty or penalty. ‫ﺣﺼﺎﻧﺔ؛ﻣﻨﺎﻋﺔ‬
IMPEACH A WITNESS (v) To call into question the truthfulness of a ‫�ﻄﻌﻦ ف ي� ﺷﻬﺎدة اﻟﺸﺎﻫﺪ؛ ﺗﻘﺪ�ﻢ ﺑيﻨﺔ ﻋ� ان اﻟﺸﺎﻫﺪ ﻻ‬
witness. ‫�ﺴﺘﺤﻖ اﻟﺜﻘﺔ واﻟﺘﺼﺪﻳﻖ‬
IMPOUND (v) To take and keep an object (often a vehicle) in (‫�ﺤﺠﺰ؛ �ﺤبﺲ؛ �ﻀبﻂ )ﻟﻠﻤﻮاد‬
police custody.

IMPRISON (v) The act of putting or confining a person in (‫�ﺤﺠﺰ؛ �ﺤبﺲ )ﻟﻼﺷﺨﺎص‬
prison.
INADMISSIBLE (adj) Something that cannot be admitted as ‫ﻏ� ﻣﻘﺒﻮل‬
‫ﻣﺮﻓﻮض؛ ي‬
evidence in a trial or hearing.

INCARCERATE (v) To put someone in jail or prison. ‫�ﺴﺠﻦ؛ �ﻀﻊ ض ي� ﺳﺠﻦ‬

INCEST (n) The act of having sexual intercourse between ‫اﻟﻘﺮى؛ ارﺗكﺎب اﻟﻔﺎﺣﺸﺔ ﻣﻊ اﻟﻤﺤﺎرم ؛ زﻧﺎ اﻟﻤﺤﺎرم‬
‫ب‬ ‫ﺳﻔﺎح‬
persons so closely related that marriage
between them would be unlawful.
INCOMPETENCY (n) Lack of capacity to understand the nature and ‫اﻟﻘﺪرة اﻟﻘﺎﻧﻮﻧ�ﺔ‬/‫ﻋﺠﺰ؛ اﻧﻌﺪام اﻷﻫﻠ�ﺔ‬
object of the proceedings, to consult with
counsel, and to assist in preparing a defense.
INCRIMINATE (v) To say that another person is responsible for ‫�ﺠﺮم؛ �ﻌﺮﺿﻪ ﻟﺘﻬﻤﺔ؛ �ﺴﻨﺪ ﺟﺮﻣﺎ ا� ﺷﺨﺺ ﻣﺎ‬
criminal actions.

INDECENT EXPOSURE (n) Showing private body parts in an indecent ‫ﺗﻌ��ﺾ ﻓﺎﺿﺢ؛ اﻇﻬﺎر اﻟﻌﻮرةﻋ� ﻣﺮأى ﻣﻦ اﻟﻨﺎس‬
manner in a public place.

INDEMNITY (n) An obligation to provide compensation ‫ﺗﻌ��ﺾ ﻋﻦ ﺧﺴﺎرة‬

(usually money) for a loss, hurt or damage.

INDICTMENT (n) A formal charge by a grand jury saying there is ‫ﻻﺋﺤﺔ اﻻﺗﻬﺎم‬
enough evidence that the defendant
committed the crime to justify having a trial.
Used primarily for felonies.
INDIGENT (adj) A person who is poor, needy, and has no one ‫ﻓﻘ�؛ ﻣﺤﺘﺎج‬
‫ي‬
to look to for support.

INDIVIDUAL EDUCATION PLAN (IEP) Plan for a student who is entitled to special ‫ﺧﻄﺔ ﺗ����ﺔ ﻓﺮد�ﺔ‬
education services.
INFORMANT (n) ‫ﻣﺨ�؛ ﻧﺎﻗﻞ اﺧبﺎر ﺟﺮﻣ�ﺔ‬
‫ب‬
An undisclosed person who confidentially
discloses material information of a crime to
the police, which is usually done in exchange
for a reward or special treatment.

INFRACTION (n) A minor violation of a law that is not a ‫ﺧﺮق؛ اﻧﺘﻬﺎك ﻗﺎﻧﻮن؛ اﻻﺧﻼل بﺎﻟﻘﺎﻧﻮن‬
misdemeanor or a felony and can’t be
punished by time in prison. Example: a minor
traffic offense.

INITIAL APPEARANCE (n)
In criminal law, the hearing at which a judge ‫اﻻو� اﻣﺎم اﻟﻤﺤكﻤﺔ؛ اﻟﺠﻠﺴﺔ اﻟﻤبﺪﺋ�ﺔ‬
‫ي‬ ‫اﻟﻤﺜﻮل‬
determines whether there is sufficient
evidence against a person charged with a
crime to hold him/her for trial.

INJUNCTION (n) ‫ئ‬

‫ﻗﻀﺎئ ﺗﻘﻴ�ﺪي؛ اﻣﺮ زﺟﺮي‬ ‫أﻣﺮ‬
A court order that says a defendant can’t ‫ي‬
perform, or must perform, a specific act.

INMATE (n) A person confined to a prison or jail. ‫ﻧ��ﻞ ف ي� ﺳﺠﻦ؛ ﻣﺤﺠﻮز ف ي� ﺳﺠﻦ‬

INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY (n) ‫ﺑﺮيء ت‬

‫ﺣى ﺗثبﺖ اداﻧﺘﻪ‬
A belief in the American legal system that
all people accused of a criminal act are
considered innocent until the evidence leaves
no doubt in the mind of the court or the jury
that the accused did commit the crime.
INSANITY PLEA (n) A claim by a defendant that he/she lacks the ‫ادﻋﺎء اﻟﺠﻨﻮن‬
soundness of mind required by law to accept
responsibility for a criminal act

INSTRUCTIONS (n) The explanation of constitutional rights given ‫اﻟﺘﻌﻠ�ﻤﺎت؛ ﺑ�ﺎن اﻟﺤﻘﻮق اﻟﺪﺳﺘﻮر�ﺔ ﻟﻠﻤﺘﻬﻢ‬
by a judge to a defendant.

INTENT (n) A resolve to do a particular criminal act. ‫ﻧ�ﻪ؛ ﺗﺼﻤ�ﻢ؛ ﻗﺼﺪ‬

INTERLOCUTORY (adj) ‫ئ‬

‫ﻧﻬﺎئ‬
Something that is provisional; not final. ‫ﻏ� ي‬‫ﻣﺆﻗﺖ؛ ي‬

INTERROGATORY (n) A written question asked by one party in a ‫ورﻗﺔ اﺳﺘﺠﻮاب‬

 lawsuit which the opposing party must answer
in writing.

INTESTATE (adj) To die without making a will. ‫ﻏ� ﻣﻮص‬

‫بﻼ وﺻ�ﺔ؛ ي‬

INTOXICATION (n) A diminished ability to act with full mental ‫ﺛﻤﺎﻟﺔ؛ ﺳﻜﺮ‬
and physical capabilities because of alcohol or
drug consumption; drunkenness.

INVESTIGATION (n) A legal inquiry to discover and collect facts. ‫ﺗﺤﻘﻴﻖ؛ ﺗﺤﺮ؛ بﺤﺚ‬

INVOLUNTARY MURDER (n) The unlawful killing of a human being in which �‫ﻏ‬
‫ﻏ� ﻋﻤﺪي؛ ارﺗكﺎب اﻟﻘﺘﻞ اﻟﺨﻄﺄ او ي‬
‫ﻏ� ارادي او ي‬
‫ﻗﺘﻞ ي‬
‫ش‬
‫اﻟﻤ�وع‬
there is no intention to kill or do grievous
bodily harm, but that is committed with
criminal negligence or during the commission
of a felony.
IRRELEVANT (adj) Evidence that is not sufficiently related to the ‫ﻻ ﻋﻼﻗﺔ ﻟﻪ بﺎﻟﻤﻮﺿ�ع‬
matter at issue.

ISSUE (n) The disputed point between parties in a ‫ﻣﻮﺿ�ع اﻟ نن�اع‬

lawsuit.

ISSUE (v) To send out officially. Example: A court issues ‫�ﺼﺪر اﻣﺮا او ﻻﺋﺤﺔ‬
an order.

JAIL (n) A place used to hold persons convicted of ‫ﺳﺠﻦ؛ ﺣبﺲ‬

misdemeanors or persons awaiting trial.

JEOPARDY (n) In danger of being charged with or convicted ‫اﻟﺨﻄﺮ اﻟﻤﺤﻴﻖ بﺎﻟﻤﺘﻬﻢ‬
of a crime.

JOIN (v) To unite or combine ‫�ﻀﻢ؛ ﻳﻨﻀﻢ؛ ﻳﻮﺣﺪ؛ �ﺪﻣﺞ‬

JOINT TENANCY (n) ‫أﻣﻼك ت‬

‫ﻣﺸ�ﻛﺔ‬
When two or more people own something
and have rights of survivorship. This means
that if one person dies, his or her share goes
to the other person(s).
JOYRIDING (n) Illegally taking a vehicle, without intent to ‫اﻟﻐ� بﺪون ﺣﻖ ﻣﻊ اﻟﻌﺰم ﻋ� اﻋﺎدﺗﻬﺎ ﻟﺼﺎﺣﺒﻬﺎ‬
‫اﺧﺬ ﺳ�ﺎرة ي‬
deprive the owner permanently of the vehicle,
 often involving reckless driving.

JUDGE (n) An elected or appointed public official with ‫ض‬

�‫ﻗﺎ‬
‫ي‬
authority to hear and decide cases in a court
of law.

JUDGMENT (n) The judge’s final decision in a case. ‫اﻟﺤكﻢ؛اﻟﻘﺮار‬

JUDICIAL NOTICE (n) A court’s recognition of the truth of basic facts ‫اﻧتبﺎە ﻣﺤكﻤﺔ؛ ﻋﻠﻢ اﻟﻤﺤكﻤﺔ اﻟﺨﺎص بﺎﻻﺷ�ﺎء‬
without formal evidence.
JURISDICTION (n) The legal authority of a court to hear and �‫اﻟﻤ�وﻋﺔ ف ي‬
‫ﺳﻠﻄﺔ او ﺣﺪود ﻗﻀﺎﺋ�ﺔ؛ ﺳﻠﻄﺔ اﻟﻤﺤكﻤﺔ ش‬
decide a case. The geographic area over which ‫ﺳﻤﺎع دﻋﻮى واﻟﺤكﻢ ﻓﻴﻬﺎ‬
the court has authority to decide cases. The
territory, subject matter, or persons over
which lawful authority may be exercised by a
court.
JURISDICTION (n) The study of law and the structure of the legal ‫ئ‬
‫اﻟﻘﻀﺎئ‬ ‫اﻻﺧﺘﺼﺎص‬
‫ي‬
system.

JUROR (n) A member of the jury. ‫يض‬

‫اﻟﻤﺤﻠﻔن‬ ‫ﻋﻀﻮ ض ي� ﻫﻴﺌﺔ‬

JUROR, ALTERNATE (n) Additional juror chosen in case of sickness or ‫يف‬

‫اﻟﻤﺤﻠﻔن‬ ‫ﻋﻀﻮ بﺪ�ﻞ ف ي� ﻫﻴﺌﺔ‬
disability of another juror.

JURY (n) ‫يف‬

‫اﻟﻤﺤﻠﻔن‬ ‫ﻫﻴﺌﺔ‬
A group of citizens picked according to law
and authorized to decide a case.

JURY FOREMAN (n) The juror who is in charge of the jury during ‫يف‬
‫اﻟﻤﺤﻠﻔن‬ ‫رﺋ�ﺲ ﻫﻴﺌﺔ‬
deliberations and speaks for the jury in court
when announcing the verdict.

JURY, HUNG (n) A jury that is unable to agree on a verdict ‫يف‬

‫اﻟﻤﺤﻠﻔن اﻟﻤﻨﻘﺴﻤﺔ‬ ‫ﻫﻴﺌﺔ‬
after a suitable period of deliberation.

JURY INSTRUCTIONS (n) ‫يف‬

‫اﻟﻤﺤﻠﻔن‬ ‫ﺗﻌﻠ�ﻤﺎت ﻫﻴﺌﺔ‬
Directions that the judge gives the jury before
it decides a case. They tell the jury what laws
apply to that particular case.
JURY TRIAL (n) ‫يف‬
‫اﻟﻠﻤﺤﻠﻔن‬ ‫ﻣﺤﺎ�ﻤﺔ ﻟﺠﻨﺔ‬
A trial that is heard and decided by a jury.

JUSTIFICATION (n) A lawful or sufficient reason for one’s acts or ‫بﺗ��ﺮ ؛ ﻋﺬر كﺎف ﻟﻼﻋﻔﺎء‬
omissions.

JUSTIFIABLE (adj) Rightful; warranted or sanctioned by law; that ‫ﻣﻤﻜﻦ بﺗ��ﺮە؛ ﻟﻪ ﻣﺎ �ﺸﻔﻊ بﻪ او بﻳ�رە‬
which can be shown to be sustained by law; as
justifiable homicide.

JUSTIFIABLE HOMICIDE (n) The killing of another human being without ‫ﻤ�ر؛ ﻗﺘﻞ �ﺸﻔﻊ بﻪ‬
‫اﻟﻘﺘﻞ اﻟ ب‬
criminal intent, for example, an accidental
shooting, or a killing in the course of self-
defense.
JUVENILE (n) A person under 18 years of age; a minor. �‫ﺣﺪث؛ ﻗﺎ‬

JUVENILE COURT (n) A court having jurisdiction over cases ‫ﻣﺤكﻤﺔ اﻻﺣﺪاث‬
involving children under 18.
KIDNAPPING (n) The taking or detaining of a person against his ‫اﻟﺨﻄﻒ‬
or her will and without lawful authority.

KNOWINGLY (adv) With knowledge, willfully or intentionally with ‫بﻤﻌﺮﻓﺔ او ﻋ� ﻋﻠﻢ‬

respect to a material element of an offense.

LACK CAPACITY (v) To lack competency, power or fitness. To be ‫ﻏ� أﻫﻞ‬

‫ﻏ� ﻗﺎدر ﻗﺎﻧﻮﻧ�ﺎ؛ ي‬
‫ي‬
incapable of giving legal consent. To lack the
fundamental ability to be accountable for
your actions.
LARCENY (n) Stealing or theft. ‫�ﻗﺔ‬
LAWSUIT (n) A civil action between two or more persons in ‫دﻋﻮى ﻗﻀﺎﺋ�ﺔ‬
the courts of law, not a criminal matter.
‫ين‬
LEADING QUESTION (n) A question which instructs the witness how to ‫ﺳﺆال ﺗﻠﻘﻴ ي او اﺳﺘﺪر � ي‬
�‫ا‬
answer or puts words in his mouth. Suggests
to the witness the desired answer.
LEASE (n) An agreement for renting real estate. ‫ﻋﻘﺪ ا�ﺠﺎر‬
LEGAL AID (n) Professional legal services available usually to ‫ﺧﺪﻣﺔ ﻗﺎﻧﻮﻧ�ﺔ؛ ﻣﺆﺳﺴﺔ ﺗﻘﺪم ﺧﺪﻣﺎت ﻗﺎﻧﻮﻧ�ﺔ ﻣﺠﺎﻧ�ﺔ‬
persons or organizations unable to afford such
services.
LENIENCY (n) Recommendation for a sentence less than the ‫ﻟن؛ رﻓﻖ او �ﺴﺎﻫﻞ ف ي� اﻟﻘﺮار‬
‫ين‬
maximum allowed.
LEVY (v) To obtain money by legal process through ‫�ﺠي ض��بﺔ‬
‫�ﺤﺼﻞ؛ ب ي‬
seizure and/or sale of property.
LEWD CONDUCT (n) Behavior that is obscene or indecent. Refers ‫ﻏ� ﻋﻔ�ﻒ‬
‫ﺳﻠﻮك ﻓﺎﺳﻖ و بﺬيء؛ ﺗ�ف ﻓﺎﺟﺮ او ي‬
to any act that is sexual in nature, and which
would be considered indecent or shocking to
a reasonable person.
LIABILITY (n) Legal debts and obligations. ‫ﻣﺴﺆوﻟ�ﺔ ﻗﺎﻧﻮﻧ�ﺔ‬
LIABLE (adj) Legally responsible. ‫ﻣﺴﺆول ﻗﺎﻧﻮﻧ�ﺎ‬
LIBEL (n) False and malicious material that is written or �‫�ﺸﻬ‬
‫ي‬ ‫ﻗﺪح؛ ﻃﻌﻦ؛‬
published that harms a person’s reputation.

LIE DETECTOR (n) A machine which records varying emotional ‫آﻟﺔ ﻛﺸﻒ اﻟ�ﺬب‬
disturbances when answering questions truly
or falsely, as indicated by fluctuations in blood
pressure, respiration, or perspiration.
LIEN (n) The right to keep a debtor’s property from ‫رﻫﻦ‬
being sold or transferred until the debtor pays
what he/she owes.

LIFE IMPRISONMENT (n) A sentence where the convicted criminal is ‫ﺳﺠﻦ ﻣﺪى اﻟﺤ�ﺎة ؛ اﻟﺤكﻢ بﺎﻟﺴﺠﻦ اﻟﻤ��ﺪ‬
ordered to spend the rest of his/her life in
prison.
LINEUP (n) A police identification procedure by which the ‫ين‬
‫اﻟﻤﺸﺒﻮﻫن‬ ‫ﺻﻒ‬
suspect to a crime is presented, along with
others, before the victim or witness to
determine if the victim or witness can identify
the suspect as the person who committed the
crime.
‫ف‬ ‫ض‬
LITIGANT (n) A party, or side involved in a lawsuit. ‫ﻣﺘﻘﺎ�؛ ﺧﺼﻢ او ﻃﺮف ﻣﻨﺎزع ي� اﻟﺨﺼﻮﻣﺔ‬
‫ي‬

LITIGATION (n) A case, controversy, or lawsuit. ‫ﻣﻘﺎﺿﺎة؛ ﻣﻨﺎزﻋﺔ او ﺧﺼﻮﻣﺔ‬

LOITERING (n) To linger or hang around in a public place or ‫�ﺴﻜﻊ‬
business where a person has no particular
purpose. In many states, cities and towns
have ordinances against loitering by which the
police can arrest someone who refuses to
 "move along."

MAKE OR DRAW UP (v) To produce in legal form; to prepare; to draft ‫�ﺤ� ﻣﺴﻮدة؛ �ﻜﺘﺐ ض ي� ﻧﻤﻮذج‬
‫ﻳﺆﻟﻒ او ﻳﺮﺳﻢ؛ ض‬
or compose (a contract, a petition, a
complaint, an answer).
MALICE (n) Hatred or hostility of one person toward ‫ﺣﻘﺪ؛ ﻣﻜﺮ او ﺧبﺚ‬
another which may lead to doing a wrongful
act without legal justification.
‫ﻏ� ش‬ ‫ش‬
MALICE AFORETHOUGHT (n) Intending to kill another person or intending ‫ﻣ�وع‬ ‫ﻣﻜﺮ ﻣﺘﻌﻤﺪ؛ إﺻﺮار ﻣﺒ�ﺖ ﻋ� ﻓﻌﻞ ي‬
‫�ء ي‬
to do an act with knowledge that it is
dangerous to human life.
MALICIOUS MISCHIEF n) Willful destruction of property, from actual ‫اذى ﻣﺘﻌﻤﺪ‬
ill will or resentment toward its owner or
possessor.
MALICIOUS PROSECUTION (n) An action with the intention of injuring the ‫ادﻋﺎء ﻣﺎ�ﺮ؛ ادﻋﺎء ﻛ�ﺪي‬
defendant and without probable cause, and
which ends in favor of the person
prosecuted.
MALICIOUSLY (adv) In a way to annoy, or injure another, or an ‫ﺣﺎﻗﺪ؛ ﻣﺎ�ﺮ‬
intent to do a wrongful act; it may consist of
direct intention to injure, or of reckless
disregard of another’s rights.
MALPRACTICE (n) Violation of a professional duty to act with ‫ﺗﻘﺼ� ف ي� أداء اﻟﻮاﺟﺐ‬
‫ي‬ ‫ﺳﻮء اﻟﺘ�ف اﻟﻤﻬيف ي ؛‬
reasonable care and in good faith without
fraud or collusion. This term is usually applied
to such conduct by doctors, lawyers, or
accountants.
‫ئ‬
‫)ﻗﻀﺎئ( و ﻣﻠﺰم‬ �‫رﺳ‬ ‫اﻣﺮ‬
MANDATE (n) A judicial command or order proceeding from ‫ي‬ ‫ي‬
a court or judicial officer, directing the proper
officer to enforce a judgment, sentence, or
decree.
MANDATORY (adj) Required, ordered. ‫ا�؛ اﺟبﺎري‬
‫اﻟﺰ ي‬
MASSIAH MOTION (n) A motion to exclude fraudulently obtained ‫طﻠب اﺑﻌﺎد اﻋﺗراﻓﺎت ﺗم اﻟﺣﺻول ﻋﻠﯾﮭﺎ ﺑطرﯾﻘﺔ ﻣزﯾﻔﺔ‬
confessions.
MATERIAL EVIDENCE (n) Relevant evidence which tends to influence �‫اﺳﺎ‬
‫ي‬ ‫ﺑيﻨﺔ ﺟﻮﻫ��ﺔ؛ دﻟ�ﻞ‬
the judge and/or jury because of its
logical connection with the issue.
MATERIAL WITNESS (n) In criminal trial, a witness whose testimony ‫ﺷﺎﻫﺪ أﺳﺎﺳﻲ وﺟﻮﻫﺮي‬
is crucial to either the defense or
prosecution.
MAYHEM (n) A malicious injury which disables or ‫ﺟ��ﻤﺔ �ﺴبﺐ ف ي� ﺣﺎﻟﺔ ﻋﺠﺰ او �ﺸﻮە داﺋﻢ ﻟﺸﺨﺺ آﺧﺮ‬
disfigures another.
MEDIATION (n) ‫يف‬
‫ﻃﺮﻓن‬ ‫اﻟﺘﻮﺳﻂ او اﻟﺘﺪﺧﻞ ي ف‬
‫ﺑن‬
A process in which people that are having a
dispute are helped by a neutral person to
communicate so they can reach a settlement
acceptable to both.
MEMORANDUM OF COSTS (n) A certified, itemized statement of the amount (‫ﻣﺬﻛﺮة اﻟﺘكﺎﻟ�ﻒ )اﻟﻤﺼﺎر�ﻒ‬
of costs after judgment.
MEMORIALIZE (v) To mark by observation in writing. ‫�ﺪون ﻋﻦ ﻃ��ﻖ اﻟﻤﻼﺣﻈﺔ‬
MENACE (n) A threat; the declaration or show of a ‫ﺗﻬﺪ�ﺪ؛ إﯾﻘﺎع اﻻذى‬
disposition or determination to inflict an evil
or injury upon another.
MENTAL HEALTH (n) The wellness of a person’s state of mind. ‫اﻟﺼﺤﺔ اﻟﻌﻘﻠ�ﺔ‬
MENTAL INCAPACITY (n) State of a person being found incapable of ‫اﻧﻌﺪام اﻷاﻫﻠ�ﺔ اﻟﻌﻘﻠ�ﺔ‬
understanding and carrying on the everyday
affairs of life due to a loss of reasoning
faculties.
MENTAL STATE (n) Capacity or condition of one’s mind in terms ‫اﻟﺤﺎﻟﺔ اﻟﻌﻘﻠ�ﺔ‬
of ability to do or not to do a certain act.
‫ت‬
‫اﻟي ﺗﻨﻄﻮي‬
MERITS (n) A decision “on the merits” refers to a ‫ﺟﺪارة؛ اﺳﺘﺤﻘﺎق؛ أﻫﻠ�ﺔ؛اﻷﺳبﺎب اﻷﺳﺎﺳ�ﺔ ي‬
judgment, decision, or ruling of a court based ‫ﻋﻠﻴﻬﺎ اﻟﺪﻋﻮى‬
upon the facts presented in evidence and the
law applied to that evidence.
MINOR (n) A child under the age of 18 years. (See also ‫ﻗﺎ�؛ ﺣﺪث‬
JUVENILE).
MINUTE ORDER (n) Document prepared by the clerk recording the ‫وﻗﺎﺋﻊ اﻻواﻣﺮ‬
orders of the clerk.
MIRANDA RIGHTS (n) Requirement that police tell a person who is �‫ﻣ�اﻧﺪا؛ اﻃﻼع اﻟﻤﺘﻬﻢ ﻋ� ﺣﻘﻮﻗﻪ اﻟﺪﺳﺘﻮر�ﺔ ف ي‬
‫ﺣﻘﻮق ي‬
arrested or questioned his or her ‫ﻣﺮﺣﻠﺔ ﻣﺎ ﻗبﻞ اﻟﻤﺤﺎ�ﻤﺔ‬
constitutional rights before they question him
or her: specifically, the right to remain silent;
MIRANDA WARNING (n) that any statement made may be used against
‫ﻣ�اﻧﺪا‬
‫ﺗنﺒ�ﻪ ي‬
 him or her; the right to an attorney; and if the
person cannot afford an attorney, one will be
appointed if he or she desires.
MISDEMEANOR (n) A crime that can be punished by up to one ‫ﺟﻨﺤﺔ‬
year in jail.
MISTAKE (n) Some unintentional act, omission, or error ‫ﺧﻄﺄ‬
caused by ignorance, surprise, imposition, or
misplaced confidence.
MISTRIAL (n) A trial that has been ended and declared void ‫ﻣﺤﺎ�ﻤﺔ ﻓﺎﺷﻠﺔ‬
(of no legal effect) due to prejudicial
error in the proceedings or other
extraordinary circumstances.
MITIGATING CIRCUMSTANCES (n) Facts which do not constitute a justification or ‫ﻇﺮوف ﻣﺨﻔﻔﺔ )ﻣﻦ �ﺸﺎﻋﺔ اﻟﺠ��ﻤﺔ(؛ ﻇﺮوف ﺗﺨﻔ�ﻒ او‬
excuse for an offense, but which may be ‫ﺗﺨﻔ�ﺾ اﻟﻌﻘ��ﺔ‬
considered as reasons for reducing the degree
of blame.
MITIGATING FACTORS(n) Facts that do not constitute a justification or ‫ﻋﻮاﻣﻞ او أﺳبﺎب ﺗﺨﻔ�ﺾ اﻟﻌﻘ��ﺔ‬
excuse for an offense, but which may be
considered as reasons for reducing the degree
of blame.
MODIFICATION (n) A spoken or written request by one party ‫ﻃﻠﺐ ﺗﻘﻴ�ﺪ ؛ ﻃﻠﺐ ﺗﺤ��ﺮ اﻟﻘﺮار او ﺗبﺪﻟ�ﻠﻪ‬
asking the judge to make a decision or an
order on a specific point.
MOOT A point or question related to a legal case ‫ﻏ� ﻣﻬﻤﺔ‬
‫ﻧﻘﻄﺔ ﺟﺪل ﻋﻘ�ﻤﺔ او ي‬
that usually has no practical importance or
relevance to the case. A moot point is a point
that can’t be resolved by the judge, is not
disputed by either side, or is resolved out of
court.
‫ﻓﺴﺎد؛ اﻧﺤﻄﺎط ق‬
�‫ﺧﻠ‬
MORAL TURPITUDE (n) Immorality. An element of crimes morally ‫ي‬
bad, as opposed to crimes bad merely
because they are forbidden by statute.
‫ﻃﻠﺐ او ت‬
‫اﻗ�اح‬
MOTION (n) Oral or written request made by a party to an
action before, during, or after a trial asking
the judge to issue a ruling or order in that
party’s favor.
‫اﻗ�اح ﻣﺮﻓﻮض؛ رﻓﺾ اﻟﻄﻠﺐ او ت‬
‫اﻻﻗ�اح‬ ‫ﻃﻠﺐ او ت‬
MOTION DENIED (n) Ruling or order issued by the judge refusing
 the party’s request.
‫اﻗ�اح ﻣﻘﺒﻮل؛ ﻗﺒﻮل اﻟﻄﻠﺐ او ت‬
‫اﻻﻗ�اح‬ ‫ﻃﻠﺐ او ت‬
MOTION GRANTED (n) Ruling or order issued by the judge
approving the party’s request.
MOTION TO QUASH (n) A request to make something null or ‫ﻃﻠﺐ اﻟﻐﺎء؛ﻃﻠﺐ ﺷﻄﺐ او اﺳﻘﺎط‬
ineffective, such as to “quash a subpoena.”
MOTION TO SEVER (n) A request usually by defense, to have a ‫ﻃﻠﺐ ﻓﺼﻞ‬
separate trial as to either jointly tried
defendants or jointly charged counts.
MOTION TO SUPPRESS (n) A request to suppress as evidence at trial ‫ﻃﻠﺐ ﻃﻤﺲ‬
things or statements obtained as a result of an
allegedly illegal search and seizure (commonly
referred to as 1538.5 PC motions.)
MUG SHOT (n) Pictures taken after a suspect is taken into ‫ﺻﻮرة اﻟﻤﻮﻗﻮف او اﻟﺸﺨﺺ اﻟﻤﺘﻬﻢ‬
custody (booked), usually used as an official
photograph by police officers.
MURDER (n) The unlawful killing of a human being with �‫اﻟﻐ‬
‫ﻗﺘﻞ اﻟﻌﻤﺪ؛ اﻣﺎﺗﺔ ي‬
deliberate intent to kill.
MURGIA MOTION (n) A request made by defense counsel to dismiss (‫ﻣﺤﺎ� اﻟﺪﻓﺎع‬
‫ي‬ ‫ﻃﻠﺐ ﻣﻮرﺟ�ﺎ )ﻃﻠﺐ اﺧﻼء ﻳﺘﻘﺪم بﻪ‬
based on a group of people being
systematically discriminated against.
NECESSITY (n) Controlling force; irresistible compulsion; ‫ض�ورة ؛ ﺣﺎﺟﺔ او ﻟﺰوم‬
a power or impulse so great that it admits no
choice of conduct.
NEGLECT (n) Absence of care or attention in the doing or ‫اﻫﻤﺎل؛ ﺗﻐﺎﻓﻞ‬
omission of a given act.
NEGLIGENCE (n) When someone fails to be as careful as the �‫ﺗﻘﺼ‬
‫ي‬ ‫اﻫﻤﺎل او‬
law requires to protect the rights and
property of others
NEXT FRIEND (n) A person acting without formal appointment ‫ﺻﺪﻳﻖ اﻗﺮب ) ﺷﺨﺺ ﺗﻌﻴﻨﻪ اﻟﻤﺤكﻤﺔ ﻟﺘﻤﺜ�ﻞ ﻃﻔﻞ ﻋﺪ�ﻢ‬
(‫اﻷﻫﻠ�ﺔ ف ي� دﻋﻮى‬
as guardian for the benefit of an infant, a
person of unsound mind not judicially
declared incompetent, or other person under
some disability.
NO TRUE BILL (n) Decision by a grand jury not to indict ‫ﻗﺮار ﻋﺪم اﺗﻬﺎم او ﺗﻘﺪ�ﻢ ﺷﻜﻮى‬
 NO-FAULT PROCEEDINGS (n) A civil case in which parties may resolve their ‫ﺑن اﻷﻃﺮاف ض ي� ﻗﻀ�ﺔ ﻣﺪﻧ�ﺔ‬ ‫اﺟﺮاءآت ﻗﺎﻧﻮﻧ�ﺔ ﻟﺤﻞ فف‬
‫اﻟ�اع ي ف‬
dispute without a formal finding of error or ‫ﻟﻌﺪم وﺟﻮد ادﻟﺔ رﺳﻤ�ﺔ ﻟﻠﺬﻧﺐ او اﻟﺨﻄﺎء‬
fault.

NOLO CONTENDERE (n) Same as pleading guilty, except that your plea �‫ﻻ ﺟﺪال؛ إﻗﺮار ﻣﻦ اﻟﻤﺘﻬﻢ بﺎﻟﺬﻧﺐ اﻟﻤﺴﻨﺪ اﻟ�ﻪ؛ﻻ ﻣﻨﺎزﻋﺔ ف ي‬
‫�ء؛ ﻻ اﺣﺘﺠﺎج ﻋ� ﻗﺮار اﻟﻤﺤكﻤﺔ‬ ‫ش‬
cannot be used against you in civil court. This ‫ي‬
can only be used in traffic or criminal court.
Also called “no contest.”
NON COMPOS MENTIS (n) Not of sound mind; insane. ‫ﻣﺨﺘﻞ اﻟﻌﻘﻞ؛ ﻣﺠﻨﻮن‬
NOT GUILTY The form of verdict in criminal cases where ‫ﻏ� ﻣﺬﻧﺐ؛ ﺑﺮيء‬
‫ي‬
the jury acquits the defendant.
NOT GUILTY BY REASON OF INSANITY (n) The jury or the judge must determine that the ‫ﻏ� ﻣﺬﻧﺐ �ﺴبﺐ اﻟﺠﻨﻮن‬
‫ي‬
defendant, because of mental disease or
defect, could not commit the offense.
NOTARY PUBLIC (n) A person authorized to certify a person’s ‫كﺎﺗﺐ اﻟﻌﺪل؛ اﻟﻤﻮﺛﻖ اﻟﻌﺎم؛ ﻣﺤﺮر ﻋﻘﻮد‬
signature, administer oaths, certify that
documents are authentic, and take
depositions.
NOTICE (n) Written information or warning. For example, ‫اﺷﻌﺎر او ﺗنﺒ�ﻪ‬
a notice to the other side that you will make a
motion in court on a certain date.
NOTICE OF MOTION (n) A notice to the opposing party that on a ‫اﺷﻌﺎر بﻄﻠﺐ‬
certain date a motion will be made in court.
NUISANCE (n) That activity which arises from �‫اﻟﻐ‬
‫وازﻋﺎج؛ ﺗﻨﻐ�ﺺ ﻋ� ي‬
unreasonable, unwarranted or unlawful use
by a person of his own property, and
producing such material annoyance resulting
in damage.
NULL AND VOID Having no force, legal power to bind, or ‫ﻻغ و�ﺎﻃﻞ‬
validity.
When a witness promises to tell the truth in a ‫اﻟﻘﺴﻢ او اﻟ ي ن‬
‫�ﻤن‬
OATH (n)
legal proceeding.
To protest to the court against an act or ‫ت‬
‫�ﻌ�ض‬
OBJECT (v)
omission by the opposing party.
A formal protest made by a party over ‫ت‬
‫اﻋ�اض؛ رﻓﺾ‬
OBJECTION (n)
testimony or evidence that the other side tries
to introduce in court.
A ruling by the court upholding the act or ‫ت‬
‫اﻻﻋ�اض‬ ‫ت‬
‫اﻋ�اض ﻣﺮﻓﻮض؛ رﻓﺾ‬
OBJECTION OVERRULED (n)

OBJECTION SUSTAINED (n)
OFFENDER (n)
OFFENSE (n)
OFFENSIVE WORDS (n)
ON A PERSON’S OWN RECOGNIZANCE (n)
OPENING ARGUMENT (n)
OPENING STATEMENT (n)
OPINION (n)
ORAL ARGUMENT (n)
ORDER, COURT – (n)
ORDINARY NEGLIGENCE (n)
ORDINANCE (n)
omission of the opposing party.
A ruling by the court in favor of the party ‫ت‬
‫اﻻﻋ�اض‬ ‫ت‬
�‫اﻋ�اض ﻣﻘﺒﻮل؛ ﻣﻮاﻓﻘﺔ ﻋ‬
making the objection.
One who commits a crime, such as a ‫ﻣﺨﺎﻟﻒ؛ ﻣﺬﻧﺐ؛ ﺟﺎن‬
felony, misdemeanor, or other punishable
unlawful act.
An act that breaks the law; includes ‫اﻧﺘﻬﺎك اﻟﻘﺎﻧﻮن؛ ﺟﺮم‬
misdemeanors, felonies, and crimes.
Language that offends; displeasing or ‫كﻠﻤﺎت ﻫﺠﻮﻣ�ﺔ؛ كﻠﻤﺎت ﻣﺆذ�ﺔ‬
annoying language.
Release of a person from custody without the �‫اﻟﺸﺨ‬
‫ي‬ ‫ﻋ� ﺗﻌﻬﺪە‬
payment of any BAIL or posting of BOND,
upon the promise to return to court.
The initial statement made by attorneys for ‫اﻟﻤﺮاﻓﻌﺔ اﻻﻓﺘﺘﺎﺣ�ﺔ‬
each side, outlining the facts each intends to
establish during the trial.
Same as opening argument �‫اﻻﻓﺘﺘﺎ‬
‫ي‬ ‫اﻟﺒ�ﺎن‬
A judge’s written explanation of a decision of ‫رأي؛ وﺣﻬﺔ ﻧﻈﺮ‬
the court or of a majority of judges. A
dissenting opinion disagrees with the majority
opinion because of the reasoning and/or the
principles of law on which the decision is
based. A concurring opinion agrees with the
decision of the court but offers further
comment.
The part of the trial when lawyers summarize ‫ﻣﻨﺎﻇﺮة ﺷﻔﻬ�ﺔ‬
their position in court and also answer the
judge’s questions.
(1) Decision of a judicial officer; (2) a directive ‫ﻗﺮار ﻣﺤكﻤﺔ؛ اﻣﺮ او ﻣﺮﺳﻮم ﺗﺼﺪرە اﻟﻤﺤكﻤﺔ‬
of the court.
The failure to use the degree of care that an ‫ﺗﻘﺼ� ﻋﺎدي‬
‫ي‬ ‫اﻫﻤﺎل او‬
ordinary or reasonably prudent person would
have used under the circumstances and for
which the negligent person is liable.
A regulation made by a local government to ‫ﻣﺤ�؛ أﻧﻈﻤﺔ ﺣﻜﻮﻣ�ﺔ‬
‫ي‬ ‫ﻗﺎﻧﻮن‬
enforce, control, or limit certain activities.
ORIGINAL JURISDICTION (n) The court in which a matter must first be ‫اﻟﻤﺤكﻤﺔ اﻟﻤﺨﺘﺼﺔ ف ي� اﻟﻨﻈﺮ بﺎﻟﺪﻋﻮى اﺑﺘﺪاء؛ اﻟﻤﺤكﻤﺔ‬
filed. ‫اﻻﺑﺘﺪﺋ�ﺔ‬
‫�ﻠ� او ﻳبﻄﻞ؛ ﻳﺮﻓﺾ‬ ‫ض‬
OVERRULE (v) A judge’s decision not to allow an ‫ي‬
objection. A decision by a higher court finding
that a lower court decision was wrong.
OVERT ACT (n) An open act showing the intent to commit a ‫ﻓﻌﻞ ﻇﺎﻫﺮ اﻟﻨ�ﺔ؛ ﻓﻌﻞ ﺳﺎﻓﺮ‬
crime.
‫ن‬
‫ﻗﺎﻧﻮي‬ ‫ﺷبﻪ‬
PARALEGAL (n) A person with legal skills, but who is not an ‫ي‬
attorney, and who works under the
supervision of a lawyer or who is otherwise
authorized by law to use those legal skills.
PARDON (v) When the chief executive of a state or ‫�ﻌﻔﻮ او �ﺼﻔﺢ‬
country releases a convicted person from the
punishment given him or her by a court
sentence.
PARENS PATRIAE (n) The power of the state to act in the parents’ ‫ﻧ�ﺎبﺔ ﻋﻦ اﻟﻮاﻟﺪﻳﻦ )ﺳﻠﻄﺔ اﻟﻮﻻ�ﺔ بﺎﻟﺘ�ف بﺪﻻ ﻣﻦ‬
place to protect a child or his or her property. (‫اﻟﻮاﻟﺪﻳﻦ‬
‫ﻣ�وط‬ ‫اﺧﻼء ﺳب�ﻞ ش‬
PAROLE (n) Supervised release of a prisoner that allows
the person to serve the rest of the sentence
out of prison if all conditions of release are
met.
PAROLE EVIDENCE (n) Oral or verbal evidence rather than written. ‫ اﻟﺸﻔ��ﺔ‬/‫اﻟﻴﻨﺔ اﻟﺸﻔﻬ�ﺔ‬
PARTY (n) One of the sides of a case. The person who ‫ﻃﺮف؛ اﺣﺪ اﻃﺮاف اﻟﻘﻀ�ﺔ‬
started the case is called the plaintiff or
defendant. The person being sued is called the
defendant or respondent.
-Aggrieved Party ‫ﻃﺮف ﻣﻈﻠﻮم او ﻣﻌﺘﺪى ﻋﻠ�ﻪ‬
A person who suffered the prejudice.
‫اﻟﺘﻔﺘ�ﺶ ت‬
‫بﺎﻟ�ﺗ�ﺐ؛ ﺗﻔﺘ�ﺶ ﻣﺤﺼﻮر‬
PAT DOWN SEARCH (n) A limited search of the outer clothing of a
person in an attempt to discover weapons
which might be used to assault the officer and
may be conducted if the officer has a
reasonable belief that the detained person is
armed and dangerous.
PEACE OFFICER (n) Includes sheriffs and their deputies, members ‫رﺟﻞ اﻣﻦ‬
of the police force of cities, and other officers
whose duty is to enforce and preserve the

PENALTY (n)
-PENALTY ASSESSMENT
-PENALTY OF PERJURY
PENDING
PENITENTIARY (n)
PEOPLE (PROSECUTION) (n)
PERJURY (n)
PERMANENCY HEARING (n)
PERMANENT INJUNCTION (n)
PERMANENT RESIDENT (n)
PERSON IN NEED OF SUPERVISION (n)
PERSONAL PROPERTY (n)
PERSONAL RECOGNIZANCE (n)
public peace.
Punishment for breaking a law. ‫ﻋﻘ��ﺔ او ﻏﺮاﻣﺔ‬
- An amount of money added to a fine. ‫ﺗﻘﻴ�ﻢ اﻟﻌﻘ��ﺔ‬
-A fine given for lying to the court. ‫ﺗﺤﺖ ﻃﺎﺋﻠﺔ ﻋﻘ��ﺔ ﺷﻬﺎدة اﻟﺰور‬
The status of a case that is not yet resolved by ‫ﻣﻌﻠﻖ؛ ﻗ�ﺪ اﻟﻨﻈﺮ‬
the court.
A prison or place of confinement where ‫إﺻﻼﺣ�ﺔ اﻻﺣﺪاث؛ ﺳﺠﻦ او ﻣﻌﺘﻘﻞ‬
convicted felons are sent to serve out the
term of their sentence.
A state, for example, the People of the State ‫اﻟﺸﻌﺐ او ﺳكﺎن اﻟﺪوﻟﺔ او اﻟﻮﻻ�ﺔ‬
of Ohio.
A false statement made on purpose while ‫ﺷﻬﺎدة اﻟﺰور؛ اﻟﺤﻠﻒ اﻟ�ﺎذب‬
under oath in a court proceeding.
The hearing for children placed in or awaiting ‫ اﻟﺮﻋﺎ�ﺔ اﻟﺪاﺋﻤﺔ ﻟﻸﻃﻔﺎل‬/‫اﻟﺤﺼﺎﻧﺔ‬
placement in foster care who were under age
three at the time of detention, and for all
children, to monitor the welfare of the child,
evaluate the parents’ reunification efforts and
establish a permanent plan for the child.
A court order requiring that some action be ‫اﻣﺮ زﺟﺮي؛ اﻣﺮ ﺗﻘﻴ�ﺪي داﺋﻢ‬
taken, or that some party refrain from taking
action. It differs from forms of temporary
relief, such as a TEMPORARY RESTRAINING
ORDER or PRELIMINARY INJUNCTION.
A person's resident status in a country of ‫اﻟﻤﻘ�ﻢ اﻟﺪاﺋﻢ‬
which they are not citizens. This is usually for
a permanent period; a person with such status
is known as a permanent resident.
‫ﺷﺨﺺ بﺤﺎﺟﺔ ش‬
‫ﻟﻼ�اف او ﻟﻠﻤﺮاﻗبﺔ‬
Juvenile found to have committed a status
offense (such as habitual truancy, violating a
curfew, or running away from home). These
are not crimes, but they might be enough to
place a child under supervision.
Things that you own and can move, like ‫ﻣﻤﺘﻠ�ﺎت ﺷﺨﺼ�ﺔ‬
furniture, equipment, or paintings.
Pre-trial release based on the person’s �‫ﺷﺨ‬
‫ي‬ ‫ﺗﻌﻬﺪ‬
promise that he or she will appear for

PETITION (n)
PETITIONER (n)
PETTY OFFENSE (n)
PETTY THEFT (n)
PLAINTIFF (n)
PLEA (n)
PLEA BARGAIN (n)
PLEAD GUILTY OR INNOCENT (v)
PLEADING (v)
Police custody (n)
POSSESSION OF DRUGS (n)
POSTPONEMENT (n)
POWER OF ATTORNEY (n)
PRECEDENT (n)
trial (no bond required). Also referred to as
release on own recognizance or ROR. (See ON
A PERSON’S OWN RECOGNIZANCE.)
A court paper that asks the court to take ‫اﻟﺘﻤﺎس‬
action. For example, in juvenile cases, the
Petition starts the court case. (See MOTION.)
A person who presents a petition to the court ‫اﻟﻤﻠﺘﻤﺲ‬
An offense for which the authorized (‫ دوﻻر ﻏﺮاﻣﺔ‬500 ‫ﺻﻐ�ة؛ ﺟﺮم �ﺴ�ﻂ )اﻗﻞ ﻣﻦ‬
‫ي‬ ‫إﺳﺎءة‬
penalty does not exceed imprisonment for 3
months or a fine of $500.
The act of taking and carrying away the ‫ﺻﻐ�ة‬
‫ي‬ ‫�ﻗﺔ‬
personal property of another of a value
usually below $100.00 with the intent to
deprive the owner of it permanently.
The person or company that files a lawsuit. ‫اﻟﻤﺪ�؛ ﻣﻘﻢ اﻟﺪﻋﻮى‬
‫ي‬
In a criminal case, the defendant’s statement ‫رد اﻟﻤﺘﻬﻢ؛ ﻻﺋﺤﺔ ﺟﻮاﺑ�ﺔ‬
pleading “guilty” or “not guilty” in answer to
the charges.
An agreement between the prosecutor and ‫ﻣﺴﺎوﻣﺔ ﻋ� رد اﻟﻤﺘﻬﻢ‬
the defendant. It lets the defendant plead
guilty to a less serious charge, if the court
approves.
‫ت‬
‫بﺎﻻﻋ�اف بﺎﻟﺠ��ﻤﺔ او ﻧﻔﻴﻬﺎ‬ ‫ﻳﺮد او �ﺠ�ﺐ ﻋ� اﻻﺗﻬﺎم اﻣﺎ‬
To admit or deny committing a crime.
Written statements filed with the court that (‫�ﻘﺪم ﺑ�ﺎﻧﺎ )ﻛﺘﺎﺑ�ﺎ‬
describe a party’s legal or factual claims about
the case and what the party wants from the
court.
Anytime the police deprive you of your ‫ش�ﻃﺔ ﺣﺠﺰ ﻗﻀﺎﺋ�ﺔ؛ ش�ﻃﺔ اﻋﺘﻘﺎﻟ�ﺔ‬
freedom of action in a significant way.
The presence of illegal drugs on the accused ‫ﺣ�ﺎزة اﻟﻤﺨﺪرات‬
for recreational use or for the purpose to sell.
To put off or delay a court hearing. ‫ﺗﺄﺧ� او ﺗﺄﺟ�ﻞ ﺟﻠﺴﺔ؛ ارﺟﺎء‬
‫ي‬
Formal authorization of a person to act in the �‫رﺳ‬
‫ي‬ ‫وكﺎﻟﺔ؛ ﺗﻔ��ﺾ او ﺗﻮﻛ�ﻞ‬
interest of another person.
A court decision in an earlier case that the (‫ﺳﺎبﻘﺔ )ﻗﺎﻧﻮﻧ�ﺔ‬

PREJUDICE (n)
PREJUDICIAL ERROR (n)
PREJUDICIAL EVIDENCE (n)
PRELIMINARY HEARING (n)
PREMEDITATION (n)
PREPONDERANCE OF THE EVIDENCE (n)
PRESENTENCE REPORT (n)
PRESUMPTION (n)
PRESUMPTION OF INNOCENCE (n)
PRINCIPAL (n)
PRINCIPALS (n)
court uses to decide similar or new cases.
‫ش‬
‫ﻟ�ء؛ ﻣ�ﻞ ﻟﺠﺎﻧﺐ آﺧﺮ‬ ‫ين‬
When an act or decision affects a person’s ‫ﺗﺤ� ﻟﺠﺎﻧﺐ؛ ﺗﻌﺼﺐ ي‬
rights in a negative way.
A mistake that is made in handling a trial ‫ﺧﻄﺄ؛ ﻏﻠﻂ او ﺧﻠﻞ ﺿﺎر ﻳﺆﺛﺮ ض ي� ﺣﻘﻮق اﻟﻤﺴﺘﺄﻧﻒ‬
resulting in harm to the complaining party.
Evidence which might unfairly sway the ‫ﺑيﻨﺔ ﺿﺎرة‬
judge or jury to one side or the other.
The hearing available to a person charged ‫ﺟﻠﺴﺔ أوﻟ�ﺔ او ﺗﻤﻬ�ﺪ�ﺔ‬
with a felony to determine if there is enough
evidence (probable cause) to hold him/her for
trial.
The planning of a crime before the crime ‫ﺳﺒﻖ اﻹ�ار‬
takes place.
To win a civil case, the plaintiff has to ‫رﺟﺤﺎن اﻟﺪﻟ�ﻞ او اﻟﺒيﻨﺔ‬
prove that most of the evidence is on his or
her side.
A report prepared by the probation ‫اﻟﺘﻘ��ﺮ اﻟﺴﺎﺑﻖ ﻻﺻﺪار اﻟﺤكﻢ‬
department for the judge when sentencing a
defendant. It describes defendant’s
background: financial, job, and family status;
community ties; criminal history; and facts of
the current offense.
‫ت‬
‫اﻓ�اض او ﻓﺮﺿ�ﺔ؛ اﺳتﻨﺘﺎج‬
An assumption that a proposition or fact is
true or false but not yet proven.
‫اﻟ�اءة‬ ‫ت‬
Principle of criminal law that a person is ‫اﻓ�اض ب‬
innocent of a crime until proven guilty. The
government has the burden of proving every
element of a crime beyond a reasonable
doubt and the defendant has no burden to
prove his innocence.
The source of authority or right. ‫اﻟﺮﺋ�ﺲ او اﻟﻤﺼﺪر؛ ﻣﺼﺪر اﻟﺴﻠﻄﺔ‬
Persons who are involved in committing or ‫ﻓﺎﻋﻠﻮا او ﻣﺮﺗﻜﺒﻮا اﻟﺠ��ﻤﺔ‬
attempting to commit a crime. Includes those
who directly and actively commit or attempt
to commit the crime, or those who assist (aid
and abet) in the commission or attempted

PRIORS (n)
PRIOR INCONSISTENT STATEMENT (n)
PRISON (n)
PRIVACY, RIGHT OF (n)
PRIVILEGE (n)
PRIVILEGED COMMUNICATIONS (n)
Pro se (adj)
PROBABLE CAUSE (n)
PROBATE COURT (n)
PROBATION (n)
PROBATION OFFICER (n)
commission of the crime.
Previous conviction(s) of the accused. ‫ﺳﻮاﺑﻖ؛ اداﻧﺎت ﺳﺎبﻘﺔ ﻟﻠﻤﺘﻬﻢ‬
Prior statements made by the witness which ‫ﻣﺘﻀﺎر�ﺔ؛ ﺑ�ﺎﻧﺎت ﺳﺎبﻘﺔ‬/‫إﻓﺎدات او ﺷﻬﺎدات ﺳﺎبﻘﺔ ﻣﺘﻨﺎﻗﻀﺔ‬
contradict statements the witness made on ‫ﻏ� ﻣنﺴﺠﻤﺔ‬ ‫ي‬
the witness stand.
A federal or state public building or other ‫ﺳﺠﻦ؛ ﻣكﺎن اﻋﺘﻘﺎل‬
place for the confinement of persons. Also
known as penitentiary, penal institution, adult
correctional institution, or jail.
The right to be left alone; the right of a ‫ﺣﻖ ﺣﺼﺎﻧﺔ اﻟﺨﺼﻮﺻ�ﺎت‬
person to be free from unwarranted publicity.
An advantage not enjoyed by all; a special ‫ﺣﺼﺎﻧﺔ‬
exemption from prosecution or other
lawsuits. (See also IMMUNITY.)
Confidential communications to certain ‫ﻣﻌﻠﻮﻣﺎت ��ﺔ‬
persons that are protected by law against any
disclosure, including forced disclosure in legal
proceedings. Communications between
lawyer and client, physician and patient,
psychotherapist and patient, priest, minister,
or rabbi and penitent are typically privileged.
When a person represents him/herself in ‫�ﻤﺜﻞ ﻧﻔﺴﻪ اﻣﺎم اﻟﻤﺤكﻤﺔ‬
court without a lawyer.
A good reason to believe that a crime has or is ‫ﺳبﺐ ﻣﺤﺘﻤﻞ او ﻣﻌﻘﻮل‬
being committed; the basis for all lawful
searches, seizures, and arrests.
The court with authority to deal with the ‫اﻟﻤ�اث؛ ﻣﺤكﻤﺔ اﺛبﺎت اﻟﻮﺻﺎ�ﺎ‬
‫ﻣﺤكﻤﺔ ي‬
estates of people who have died.
‫ت‬
‫ﻓ�ة اﺧﺘبﺎر‬
A sentencing alternative to imprisonment in
which the court releases a convicted
defendant under supervision of a probation
officer who makes certain that the defendant
follows certain rules, for example, gets a job,
gets drug counseling.
‫ﺿﺎبﻂ اﻟﻤﺮاﻗبﺔ اﺛﻨﺎء ت‬
‫ﻓ�ة اﻻﺧﺘبﺎر‬
One who supervises a person placed on
probation and is required to report the
 progress and to surrender them if they violate
the terms and conditions of the probation.
PRO BONO (adj) Legal work done for free. ‫ﻣﺠﺎﻧﺎ و�ﺪون ﻣﻘﺎبﻞ‬
PROMISSORY NOTE (n) A written document that says a person ‫ﻛﻔﺎﻟﺔ ﺧﻄ�ﺔ؛ كﻤﺒ�ﺎﻟﺔ‬
promises to pay money to another.
PROOF (n) Any fact or evidence that leads to a judgment ‫اﺛبﺎت او ﺑﺮﻫﺎن؛ ﺣﺠﺔ بﺎﺗﺔ‬
of the court.
PROOF OF SERVICE (n) A form filed with the court that proves that ‫ﺑﺮﻫﺎن �ﺴﻠ�ﻢ‬
court papers were properly delivered to
someone.
PROSECUTING ATTORNEY (n) A public officer who prosecutes criminal cases ‫ﻣﺤﺎ� اﻻدﻋﺎء اﻟﻌﺎم‬
‫ي‬
for the state. See PROSECUTOR and DISTRICT
ATTORNEY.
PROSECUTION (n) The party that starts a criminal case and files ‫اﻻدﻋﺎء اﻟﻌﺎم‬
criminal charges. A common name for the
state’s side of the case.
PROSECUTOR (n) A trial lawyer representing the government in ‫اﻟﻤﺪ� اﻟﻌﺎم‬
‫ي‬
a criminal case and the interests of the state
in civil matters.
‫ئ‬
‫وﻗﺎئ او ﺣﻤﺎ�ﺔ‬
PROTECTIVE ORDER (n) A court order to protect a person from further ‫اﻣﺮ ي‬
harassment, service of process, or discovery.
‫ش‬
‫اﻟ�ء‬
Prove To demonstrate the truth or existence of ‫ﻳثبﺖ او بﻳ�ﻫﻦ ﻋ� ﺻﺤﺔ ي‬
(something) by evidence or argument.
PUBLIC DEFENDER (n) A lawyer picked by the court to represent a (‫ﻣﺤﺎم دﻓﺎع ﻋﺎم )ﻋﻦ ﻣﺘﻬﻢ‬
defendant who cannot afford a lawyer.
PUNITIVE DAMAGES (n) Money awarded to an injured person, over ‫ﺗﻌ��ﻀﺎت ﺟﺰاﺋ�ﺔ او ﻋﻘﺎﺑ�ﺔ‬
and above the measurable value of the injury,
in order to punish the person who hurt
him/her.
‫ف‬
‫�ﻠ�؛ �ﻔﺴﺦ؛ �ﺸﻄﺐ؛ ﻳبﻄﻞ‬
QUASH To overthrow, to vacate, to annul or to make ‫ي‬
void a decision.
‫ش‬ ‫ش‬ ‫اﻟ� ش‬‫ش‬
QUID PRO QUO (n) Something for something; giving one valuable ‫�ء آﺧﺮ‬ ‫بﺎﻟ�ء؛ ي‬
‫�ء ﻣﻘﺎبﻞ ي‬ ‫ي‬ ‫ي‬
thing for another.
Questioning (of witnesses) The action of asking questions. (‫اﺳﺘﺠﻮاب )اﻟﺸﺎﻫﺪ‬
‫ئ‬
‫اﻟﺠﻨﺎئ ﻟﺸﺨﺺ؛ ﺳﺠﻞ اﻟﺸﺨﺺ‬ ‫ورﻗﺔ ﺗﻠﺨﺺ اﻟﺘﺎر�ـ ــﺦ‬
RAP SHEET (n) A written summary of a person’s criminal ‫ي‬
 ‫ئ‬
‫اﻟﺠﻨﺎئ‬
history. ‫ي‬
RAPE (n) Unlawful intercourse with an individual ‫اﻏﺘﺼﺎب‬
without his/her consent.

RE (prep) In the matter of; in the case of. ‫ﻓ�ﻤﺎ ﻳﺘﻌﻠﻖ؛ بﺨﺼﻮص؛ �ﺸﺄن‬
REAL EVIDENCE (n) Evidence given to explain, repel, counteract, ‫ﺑيﻨﺔ ﺣﻘ�ﻘ�ﺔ؛ اﺛبﺎت راﺳﺦ‬
or disprove facts given in evidence by the
adverse party.

REAL PROPERTY (n) Land and buildings. ‫ﻋﻘﺎر‬

REASONABLE DOUBT, BEYOND A The degree of certainty required for a juror to ‫دون أي ﺷﻚ ﻣﻌﻘﻮل؛ ﻻ ﻣﺠﺎل ﻓ�ﻪ ﻟﻠﺸﻚ؛ بﻤﺎ ﻻ �ﻘبﻞ‬
legally find a criminal defendant guilty. ‫اﻟﺸﻚ اﻟﻤﻌﻘﻮل‬
REBUTTAL (n) Evidence presented at trial by one party in ‫ﻧﻘﺾ او ﺗﻔﻨ�ﺪ؛ رد‬
order to overcome evidence introduced by
another party.
RECEIVING STOLEN PROPERTY Offense of receiving any property with the ‫اﺳﺘﻼم أﻣﻼك ﻣ�وﻗﺔ‬
knowledge that it has been unlawfully taken,
stolen, extorted, obtained, embezzled, or
disposed of.
RECIDIVISM (n) The continued, habitual, or compulsive �‫اﻻﻧﺘكﺎﺳ�ﺔ او ﻧﺰﻋﺔ اﻻرﺗﺪاد )و�ﺨﺎﺻﺔ اﻻﺟﺮام(؛ اﻹدﻣﺎن ﻋ‬
breaking the law after having been convicted ‫اﻻﺟﺮام‬
of prior offenses.
Operation of a motor vehicle that shows a ‫ت‬
‫ﻣﺴﺘﻬ�ة‬ ‫ﻗ�ﺎدة ﻣﺘﻬﻮرة او ﻃﺎ�ﺸﺔ؛ ﻗ�ﺎدة ﺳ�ﺎرة‬
RECKLESS DRIVING (n)
reckless disregard of possible consequences
and indifference of others’ rights.
RECORD (n) The official papers that make up a court case. ‫ﺳﺠﻞ او ﻣﻠﻒ اﻟﻘﻀ�ﺔ او اﻟﺪﻋﻮى‬
REDACT (v) To adapt, edit, or remove information for ‫ﻳﻨﻘﺢ؛ �ﺼ�غ؛ �ﺤﺮر‬
public record ‫ﺗﻨﻘﻴﺢ؛ ﺻ�ﺎﻏﺔ؛ ﺗﺤ��ﺮ‬
REDACT (n)

REDRESS (n) To set right; to remedy; to compensate; to ‫اﻧﺼﺎف او ﺗﻘ��ﻢ؛ اﺻﻼح؛ ﺗﻌﺪ�ﻞ‬
remove the causes of a grievance.
�
REFEREE (n) A person appointed by the court to hear and ‫ﻣﺤكﻢ؛ ﺣكﻢ‬
make decisions on limited legal matters, like
juvenile or traffic offenses.
RELEVANT (n) Evidence that helps to prove a point or issue ‫ﻣﻮﺿﻮ�؛اﺛبﺎت او ﺑيﻨﻪ ﻣﻮﺿﻮﻋ�ﺔ‬
‫ي‬
in a case.
RELINQUISHMENT (n) The abandoning, renouncing, or giving over of ‫ﺗﻨﺎزل او ﺗﺨﻞ؛ ﺗﺮك‬
 a right.
REMAND (v) (1) The act of an appellate court that sends a ‫�ﻌ�ﺪ؛ ﻳﺮﺟﻊ؛ �ﺄﻣﺮ ﺑ�ﻋﺎدة او ارﺟﺎع‬
case to a lower court for further proceedings;
(2) to return a prisoner to custody.
‫ئ‬
‫ﻗﻀﺎئ‬ ‫ﻋﻼج‬
REMEDY (n) The means by which a right is enforced or the ‫ي‬
violation of a right is prevented, redressed or
compensated.
REMOVAL (n) The transfer of a state case to federal court ‫ﻧﻘﻞ )ﻗﻀ�ﺔ ﻣﻦ ﻣﺤكﻤﺔ ا� أﺧﺮى(؛ ﺗﺤ��ﻞ‬
for trial; in civil cases, because the parties are
from different states; in criminal and some
civil cases, because there is a significant
possibility that there could not be a fair trial in
state court.
REPLY (n) The response by a party to charges raised in a ‫ﻳﺮد او �ﺠ�ﺐ‬
pleading by the other party.
REPORT (n) An official or formal statement of facts or �‫رﺳ‬
‫ي‬ ‫ﺗﻘ��ﺮ او ﺑ�ﺎن‬
proceedings.
RESPONDEAT SUPERIOR (n) “Let the master answer.” The doctrine which "‫ﻓﻠ�ﺠﺐ اﻟﺴ�ﺪ؛ ﻣبﺪاء "اﻟﺴ�ﺪ ﻫﻮ اﻟﻤﺴﺆول‬
holds that employers are responsible for the
acts and omissions of their employees and
agents, when done within the scope of the
employees’ duties.

RESPONDENT (n) The person who answers the original Petition. ‫اﻟﻤﺪ� ﻋﻠ�ﻪ‬
Even if you later file an action of your own in
that case, you are still the respondent for as
long as the case is open.

‫ف‬
‫�ﻜﺘ� بﻤﺎ ﻗﺪم ﻣﻦ ﺣﺠﺞ‬
REST (v) When a party in a case has presented all the ‫ي‬
evidence it intends to offer.
RESTITUTION (n) Giving something back to its owner. Or, giving ‫رد او إﻋﺎدة؛ ﺗﻌ��ﺾ‬
the owner something with the same value, like
paying to fix his or her property .
RESTRAINING ORDER (n) A court order that tells a person to stop doing ‫اﻣﺮ زﺟﺮي او ﺗﻘﻴ�ﺪي‬
something for a certain amount of time,
 usually until a court hearing is held.
RETAINER (n) Act of the client employing the attorney or ‫اﻟﺘﻮﻛ�ﻞ‬
counsel. Also, the fee the client pays when he
or she retains the attorney to act for him or
her.
RETALIATION (n) The act of harming someone in response to an ‫اﻧﺘﻘﺎم؛ اﻟﺮد بﺎﻟﻤﺜﻞ‬
injury that he/she has caused another.
REUNIFICATION SERVICES (n) Services that help parents get their children ‫ﺧﺪﻣﺎت ﻟﻢ اﻟﺸﻤﻞ‬
back after they are taken away.
REVERSE (v) An action of a higher court in overturning a ‫ﻳﻨﻘﺾ‬
lower court decision.
REVOKE (v) To change or take back. �‫�ﻐ‬
‫ﻳبﻄﻞ او ي‬
ROBBERY (n) The act of taking money, personal property, or (‫�ﻗﺔ ) ﻋﻦ ﻃ��ﻖ اﺳﺘﺨﺪام اﻟﻘﻮة‬
any other article of value that is in the
possession of another by means of force or
fear.
RULE (n) An established standard, guide, or ‫ﻧﻈﺎم؛ ﻗﺎﻋﺪة‬
regulation.
‫اﻟ� ي ن‬
‫اﻫن او اﻻدﻟﺔ‬ ‫ﻧﻈﺎم ب‬
RULES OF EVIDENCE (n) Standards governing whether information can
be admitted and considered in a civil or
criminal case.
Ruling (n) A court decision. ‫ﺣكﻢ؛ ﻗﺮار‬
SANCTION (n) Penalty meant to make someone obey the ‫ﻋﻘ��ﺔ ﺟﺰاﺋ�ﺔ‬
law. For example, a judge can order someone
to pay for not following court orders.
SATISFACTION OF JUDGMENT (n) Payment of a judgment amount by the losing ‫اﻹ�ﻔﺎء بﺎﻟﺤكﻢ‬
party.

SEALING (n) The closure of court records, except to the ‫ﺧﺘﻢ واﻏﻼق اﻟﺴﺠﻼت‬
parties involved.
SEARCH AND SEIZURE (n) When a person or place is searched and (�‫اﻟﺘﻔﺘ�ﺶ واﻟﻘبﺾ )ﻋ‬
evidence useful in the investigation and
prosecution of a crime is taken. The search is
conducted after an order is issued by a judge.
SEARCH WARRANT (n) A written order by a judge that permits a law ‫أﻣﺮ او ﻣﺬﻛﺮة ﺗﻔﺘ�ﺶ‬
 enforcement officer to search a specific place
(such as an apartment or a car) to find specific
people or things (such as a weapon, or
controlled narcotics). A judge can order a
search warrant when there is probable cause
(that is, a good reason to believe that a crime
has or is being committed).
SELF-DEFENSE (n) The use of reasonable force to protect oneself ‫اﻟﺪﻓﺎع ﻋﻦ اﻟﻨﻔﺲ او ﺣﻤﺎﻳﺘﻬﺎ‬
or members of the family from bodily harm
from the attack of an aggressor, if the
defender has reason to believe he/she/they
is/are in danger.
SELF-INCRIMINATION (n) Making statements or producing evidence ‫ﺗﺠ��ﻢ اﻟﺬات‬
which tend to prove that the speaker is guilty
of a crime.
SENTENCE (n) A judge’s formal pronouncement of the ‫ﺣكﻢ بﺎﻟﻌﻘ��ﺔ‬
punishment to be given to a person convicted
of a crime.
SENTENCE REPORT (n) A document containing background material ‫ﺑ�ﺎن اﻟﺤكﻢ‬
on a convicted person. It is prepared to guide
the judge in the imposition of a sentence.
Sometimes called a PRE-SENTENCE REPORT.
‫اﺣكﺎم ت ن‬
‫ﻣ�اﻣﻨﺔ‬
SENTENCE, CONCURRENT (n) Two or more sentences of jail time to be
served at the same time.
SENTENCE, CONSECUTIVE (n) Two or more sentences of jail time to be ‫اﺣكﺎم ﻣﺘﺘﺎبﻌﺔ‬
served one after the other.

SENTENCE, SUSPENDED (n) A sentence postponed in which the defendant ‫ﺣكﻢ ﻣﻌﻠﻖ‬
is not required to serve time unless he or she
commits another crime or violates a court-
imposed condition.

SENTENCING (n) The hearing where the court announces a ‫اﺻﺪار اﻟﺤكﻢ‬
person’s punishment (sentence).
SEPARATION (n) An arrangement where a husband and wife ‫اﻧﻔﺼﺎل‬
live apart from each other while remaining

SEQUESTRATION OF WITNESSES (n)
SERVE A SENTENCE (v)
SERVICE (n)
SERVICE OF PROCESS (n)
SETTLEMENT (n)
SEVERANCE DAMAGES (n)
SEXUAL ABUSE / ASSAULT (n)
SEXUAL BATTERY (n)
SEXUAL HARASSMENT (n)
SEXUAL MOLESTATION (n)
SHOPLIFTING (n)
married either by mutual consent or by a
judicial order.
Keeping all witnesses (except plaintiff and (‫ﻓﺼﻞ اﻟﺸﻬﻮد )ﻋﻨﺪ ﻣﺤﺎ�ﻤﺔ او ﺳﻤﺎع اﻟﺸﻬﻮد‬/‫ﻋﺰل‬
defendant) out of the courtroom except for
their time on the stand and cautioning them
not to discuss their testimony with other
witnesses. Also called separation of
witnesses. This prevents a witness from being
influenced by the testimony of another
witness.
� ‫ض‬
To spend a required amount of time in a ‫�ﻘ� ﺣكﻤﺎ‬
‫ي‬
designated location such as a prison as
punishment for the crime committed.
The delivery of a copy of the court papers to a (‫ﺗبﻠﻴﻎ؛ �ﺴﻠ�ﻢ )أوراق‬
party in person or by mail.
The delivery of legal papers to the opposing ‫ﺗبﻠﻴﻎ اﻻﺟﺮاء‬
party. The papers must be delivered by an
adult aged 18 or older who is not involved in
the case and who swears to the date and
method of delivery to the recipient.
When both sides reach an agreement that ‫�ﺴ��ﺔ او ﺗﺼﻔ�ﺔ‬
solves the case before the judge or jury makes
a decision.
Compensation to any person who has ‫ﺗﻌ��ﺾ ﻋﻦ اﻟﻔﺼﻞ ﻣﻦ اﻟﻌﻤﻞ‬
suffered an economic loss as a consequence
of being removed from employment.
Unlawful sexual contact with another person. �‫ﺟن‬
‫ي‬ ‫اﻋﺘﺪاء‬
‫اﻋﺘﺪاء ﺟن� ض‬
‫بﺎﻟ�ب‬
The forced penetration of or contact with ‫ي‬
another person’s sexual organs.
Sexual words, conduct, or action (usually �‫اﻟﺠن‬
‫ي‬ ‫اﻟﺘﺤﺮش‬
repeated and persistent) that, being directed
at a specific person, annoys, alarms, or causes
substantial emotional distress in that person.
Illegal sex acts performed against a minor by ‫اﻟﺠن� اﻟﻤﺴﺘﻤﺮ‬
‫ي‬ ‫اﻟﺘﺤﺮش‬
an adult.
Taking and concealing merchandise from a ‫اﻟ�ﻗﺔ ﻣﻦ اﻟﻤﺤﻼت اﻟﺘﺠﺎر�ﺔ‬
 store or business without paying the purchase
price.
(‫� او ﻋﺪﻣﻪ‬‫ش‬ ‫ين‬
SHOW CAUSE (v) To appear in court and present evidence why ‫ﻳﺒن اﻻﺳبﺎب اﻟﻤﻮﺟبﺔ )ﻟﺤﺼﻮل ي‬
the orders requested by the other side should
not be granted or carried out.
SIDEBAR (n) When the judge and lawyers talk, usually in ‫ﺟﺎﻧي‬
‫اﺟﺘﻤﺎع ب ي‬
the courtroom, out of hearing of the jury and
spectators.
‫ﻗﺬف؛ ت‬
‫اﻓ�اء؛ �ﺸ��ﻪ‬
SLANDER (n) Defamation of a person’s character or
reputation through false or malicious oral
statements. See DEFAMATION.
SMALL CLAIMS COURT (n) A court that handles civil claims for $5,000 or ‫ﻣﺤكﻤﺔ اﻟﻘﻀﺎ�ﺎ اﻟﺼﻐﺮى‬
less. People often represent themselves
rather than hire an attorney.
SOLICITATION (n) Getting someone else to commit a crime. ‫إ�ﺠﺎد ﺷﺨﺺ آﺧﺮ ﻟ�ﻘﻮم بﺎرﺗكﺎب اﻟﺠ��ﻤﺔ‬
STANDARD OF PROOF (n) There are essentially three standards of proof ‫ث�وط اﻻﺛبﺎت‬
applicable in most court proceedings. In
criminal cases, the offense must be proven
BEYOND A REASONABLE DOUBT, the highest
standard. In civil cases and neglect and
dependency proceedings, the lowest standard
applies by a mere PREPONDERANCE OF THE
EVIDENCE, (more likely than not). In some civil
cases, and in juvenile proceedings such as
a permanent termination of parental rights,
an intermediate standard applies, proof by
CLEAR AND CONVINCING EVIDENCE.
STATEMENT, CLOSING (n) The final statements by the attorneys to the �‫اﻟﺨﺘﺎ‬
‫ي‬ ‫اﻟﺒ�ﺎن‬
jury or court summarizing the evidence that
they have established and the evidence that
the other side has failed to establish. Also
known as CLOSING ARGUMENT.
STATEMENT, OPENING (n) Outline or summary of the nature of the case �‫اﻻﻓﺘﺘﺎ‬
‫ي‬ ‫اﻟﺒ�ﺎن‬
and of the anticipated proof presented by the
attorney to the jury before any evidence is
submitted. Also known as OPENING
ARGUMENT.
STATEMENT OF FACT (n) Any written or oral declaration of facts in a ‫ﺑ�ﺎن اﻟﺤﻘﺎﺋﻖ‬
case.
‫يف‬
‫ﻣﺨﺎﻟﻔن اﻟﻨﻈﺎم‬
STATUS OFFENDERS (n) Youths charged with being beyond the
control of their legal guardian or who are
regularly disobedient, absent from school, or
have committed other acts that would not be a
crime if committed by an adult. They are not
delinquents, but are persons (including minors
or children) in need of supervision, depending
on the state in which they live. Status
offenders are placed under the supervision of
the juvenile court. (See PERSON IN NEED OF
SUPERVISION.)
‫ش‬
‫��� ــﻊ‬
STATUTE (n) A law passed by Congress or a state
legislature.
�� ‫ش‬
STATUTORY (n) Relating to a statute; created, defined, or ‫�� ي‬
required by a statute.
�� ‫ش‬
STATUTORY LAW (n) Law enacted by the legislative branch of ‫اﻟﻘﺎﻧﻮن اﻟت� ي‬
government, as distinguished from CASE LAW
or COMMON LAW
STATUTORY RAPE (n) The unlawful sexual intercourse with a person ‫اﻟﺠن� ﻣﻊ ﻣﻦ كﺎن او كﺎﻧﺖ دون اﻟﺴﻦ‬
‫ي‬ ‫ﺟ��ﻤﺔ اﻻﺗﺼﺎل‬
‫ض‬
�‫اﻟﻘﺎﻧﻮي بﻐﺾ اﻟﻨﻈﺮ ﻋﻤﺎ اذا كﺎن ذﻟﻚ بﻘﺒﻮل اﻟﻘﺎ‬
under an age set by statute, regardless of ‫ي‬
whether he/she consents to the act.
‫ف‬
(‫ﻗﺎﻧﻮي‬ ‫إ�ﻘﺎف )اﺟﺮاء‬
STAY (n) The act of stopping a judicial proceeding by ‫ي‬
order of the court.
STRICKEN EVIDENCE (n) Evidence that has been removed from the ‫ادﻟﺔ ﻣﺸﻄ��ﺔ‬
official record.
STRIKE (v) (1) To delete or remove. (2) To dismiss an ‫�ﺸﻄﺐ؛ ﻳ��ﻞ‬
allegation before sentencing.
‫ﺷﻄﺐ؛ ازاﻟﺔ‬
STRIKE (n)
A prior conviction of serious felony that is
charged as a prior allegation, e.g. a second
strike, or third strike.
SUBPOENA (n) An official order to go to court at a certain ‫ﻣﺬﻛﺮة اﺣﻀﺎر‬
time. Subpoenas are commonly used to tell
witnesses to come to court to testify in a trial.
 ‫ض‬
�‫�ﻘﺎ‬
SUE (v) To begin legal proceedings against another ‫ي‬
person or entity.
SUIT (n) Any proceeding by one person or persons ‫ﻣﻘﺎﺿﺎة‬
against another person or entity in a court of
law.

SUMMONS (n) 1) A notice to a defendant that he or she has ‫رﺳ� ﻟﻠﻤﺜﻮل اﻣﺎم اﻟﻘﻀﺎء‬
‫ي‬ ‫اﺳﺘﺪﻋﺎء‬
been sued or charged with a crime and is
required to appear in court. (2) A jury
summons requires the person receiving it to
report for possible jury duty.
SUSPEND (v) To postpone, stay, or withhold certain ‫�ﻌﻠﻖ؛ ﻳﻮﻗﻒ‬
conditions of a judicial sentence for a
temporary period of time.
SUSTAIN (v) To maintain, to affirm, to approve. ‫�ﺴﺎﻧﺪ؛ ﻳﻮاﻓﻖ‬
SWEAR (v) To declare in court that something is true. ‫�ﻘﺴﻢ‬
TANGIBLE (Adj) When something can be perceived, especially ‫ﻣﺤﺴﻮس؛ ﻣﻠﻤﻮس‬
through the sense of touch.
TEMPORARY RELIEF (n) Any form of action by a court granting one of ‫ﺣﻞ ﻣﺆﻗﺖ‬
the parties an order to protect its interest
pending further action by the court.
TEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDER or TRO A temporary order of a court to keep ‫اﻣﺮ زﺟﺮي او ﺗﻘﻴ�ﺪي ﻣﺆﻗﺖ‬
(n) conditions as they are (like not taking a
child out of the county or not selling marital
property) until there can be a hearing in
which both parties are present
TESTIFY (v) To give evidence under oath as a witness in a ‫�ﺸﻬﺪ‬
court proceeding.
TESTIMONY (n) Oral evidence at a trial or during a deposition. ‫ﺷﻬﺎدة؛ اﻓﺎدة ﺷﻔﻬ�ﺔ او ﺧﻄ�ﺔ‬
THIRD-PARTY (n) A person, business, or government agency ‫ﻃﺮف ﺛﺎﻟﺚ‬
not actively involved in a legal
proceeding, agreement, or transaction.
TIME SERVED (n) A sentence given by the court to a convicted ‫ﻣﺪة ﻋﻘ��ﺔ ﻣﻘﻀ�ﺔ‬
criminal equal to the amount of time that
the criminal was incarcerated during the
 trial.
TORT (n) When a person is hurt because someone did ‫ض�ر‬
not do what he or she was supposed to do.
The most common tort action is when
people sue for damages as a result of an
accident.
TORTURE (v) To inflict intense pain to body or mind for ‫�ﻌﺬب؛ �ﻌﺮض ﺷﺨﺺ ﻻﻟﻢ ﺟﺴﺪي‬
purposes of punishment, or to extract a ‫ﺗﻌﺬ�ﺐ‬
TORTURE (n)
confession or information, or for sadistic
pleasure.
TRAFFIC COURT (n) A specialized court that hears crimes ‫ﻣﺤكﻤﺔ اﻟﻤﺨﺎﻟﻔﺎت اﻟﻤﺮور�ﺔ‬
dealing with traffic offenses.
TRANSCRIPT (n) A written record of everything that is said ‫اﻟﺴﺠﻞ اﻟﻤﺪون‬
in a hearing or trial.

TRESPASSING (n) Unlawful entry into another person’s �‫اﻟﻐ‬

‫ﺗﻌﺪي؛ اﻧﺘﻬﺎك ﺣﺮﻣﺔ ي‬
property.
TRIAL (n) A court process in which the issues of fact ‫ﻣﺤﺎ�ﻤﺔ‬
and
law are decided according to legal procedures
so a judge or jury can make a decision.
TRIAL COURT (n) The first court to consider a case. Compare ‫ﻣﺤكﻤﺔ اﻟبﺪا�ﺔ‬
APPELLATE COURT.
TRIAL, COURT (BENCH) (n) A trial where the jury is waived and the case is ‫ﻣﺤﺎ�ﻤﺔ ﻗﻀﺎﺋ�ﺔ‬
seen before the judge alone.
TRIAL, SPEEDY (n) The Sixth Amendment of the Constitution ‫ﻣﺤﺎ�ﻤﺔ ﻋﺎﺟﻠﺔ‬
guarantees the accused a trial as soon as
possible in accordance with prevailing rules,
regulations and proceedings of law.
TRUE BILL (n) The indictment made by a grand jury when it ‫اﺗﻬﺎم ﻣﻘﺒﻮل‬
finds sufficient evidence for trial on the
charge alleged
‫ق‬
��‫ﺣﻘ‬ ‫إ�ﺠﺎد‬
TRUE FINDING (n) The juvenile court equivalent of a guilty ‫ي‬
verdict.
UNDERCOVER (Adj) Participating in a secret investigation in ‫�ي‬
 order to acquire information about the
crime without the other party realizing
his/her identity.
UNDER THE INFLUENCE (Prep phrase) Any abnormal mental or physical condition �‫اﻟﺘﺄﺛ‬
‫ي‬ ‫ﺗﺤﺖ‬
that results from alcohol or drug use.
UNEMPLOYMENT (n) Condition of not being employed. ‫اﻟبﻄﺎﻟﺔ‬
‫ﻏ� ش‬
‫ﻣ�وع‬ ‫اﺣﺘﻔﺎظ ي‬
UNLAWFUL DETAINER (n) Conduct of a tenant who refuses to leave
an apartment or leased premises after the
end of the lease.
�
�‫�ﻠ‬
VACATE (v) To annul/ cancel (a judgement or a ‫ﻳبﻄﻞ؛ ي‬
contract; to set aside.

VENUE (n) The court where you can file your legal ‫ﻣكﺎن اﻟﻤﺤﺎ�ﻤﺔ‬
action.
‫ض‬
�‫اﻟﻘﺎ‬ ‫يض‬
‫اﻟﻤﺤﻠﻔن او‬ ‫ئ‬
‫اﻟﻨﻬﺎئ ﻟﻬﻴﺌﺔ‬ ‫اﻟﻘﺮار‬
VERDICT (n) A jury’s or a judge’s final decision. ‫ي‬ ‫ي‬
VICTIM (n) A person who is the object of a crime or civil ‫ﺿﺤ�ﺔ‬
illegal behavior.
VIOLATION (n) The breaking of a right, duty, or law. ‫اﻧﺘﻬﺎك؛ ﻣﺨﺎﻟﻔﺔ‬
‫يف‬
‫اﻟﻤﺤﻠﻔن ﻟﻐﺮض اﻻﺧﺘ�ﺎر‬ ‫اﺳﺘﺠﻮاب‬
VOIR DIRE (n) The process of questioning potential jurors to
choose which people will be part of the jury
and decide a case.
VOLUNTARY MANSLAUGHTER (n) A killing committed voluntarily during a ‫اﻟﻐ� ﻣﺘﻌﻤﺪ‬
‫اﻟﻘﺘﻞ اﻻرادي ي‬
heated moment, during a sudden quarrel, for
instance if two persons fight, and one of them
kills the other.
WAIVE (RIGHTS) (v) To give up a legal right voluntarily, (‫ﻳتﻨﺎزل )ﻋﻦ ﺣﻘﻮق‬
intentionally, and with full knowledge of the
consequences.
WAIVER OF IMMUNITY (n) Occurs when witnesses, before testifying or ‫ﺗﻨﺎزل ﻋﻦ ﺣﻖ اﻟﺤﺼﺎﻧﺔ‬
producing evidence, give up the right to
refuse to testify against themselves, making it
possible for their testimony to be used
against them in future proceedings.
‫ئ‬
‫ﻗﻀﺎئ‬ ‫ﻣﺬﻛﺮة ﺗﻔ��ﺾ‬
WARRANT (n) A court order telling a law enforcement ‫ي‬
officer to do something.
WARRANT, ARREST (n) A court order telling a law enforcement ‫ﻣﺬﻛﺮة ﺗﻮﻗ�ﻒ‬
officer to arrest and bring before the court
the person accused of an offense.
WARRANT, SEARCH (n) A written order directing a law enforcement ‫ﻣﺬﻛﺮة ﺗﻔﺘ�ﺶ‬
officer to conduct a search of a specified
place and to seize any evidence directly
related to the criminal offense.
WEAPON (n) An instrument used to threaten, injure or kill ‫ﺳﻼح‬
v someone.
WEAPON, CONCEALED (n) A weapon that is carried by a person, but that ‫ﺳﻼح ﻣﺤﺠﻮب ﻋﻦ اﻟﻨﻈﺮ‬
is not visible by ordinary observation.
WEAPON, DEADLY (n) n Any item that can used to produce death or ‫ﺳﻼح ﻗﺎﺗﻞ او ﻓﺘﺎك‬
serious bodily injury.
WILL (n) A legal paper that says what a person wants to ‫وﺻ�ﺔ‬
happen to his or her personal property after
the person dies. A will can be changed or
cancelled at any time before a person dies.
(See TESTAMENT.)

WILLFUL (Adj) A “willful” act is an act done intentionally, as ‫بﻘﺼﺪ؛ بﻌﻤﺪ‬

opposed to an act done carelessly or
accidentally.
WITHOUT PREJUDICE (adv) If your case is dismissed without prejudice it ‫ﻏ� ﻣﺎﻧﻊ ﻟﻠﺪﻋﻮى‬
‫رد ي‬
means that you can bring another suit based
on the same legal issue.
WITNESS (n) 1. A person called to testify about what he ‫ﺷﺎﻫﺪ‬
or she saw, heard, or knows.

WITNESS (v) 1. To see an event (such as a crime or ‫�ﺪ� �ﺸﻬﺎدة‬

‫ي‬
accident) take place.
. 2. To sign your name on a document to prove
that it is authentic (for instance, on a will).
WORK PROJECT (n) A program allowing the sentenced person ‫ش‬
‫ﻣ�وع ﻋﻤﻞ‬
the option to work instead of going to jail.
‫ئ‬
‫ﻗﻀﺎئ‬ ‫اﻣﺮ‬
WRIT (n) A court order that says a certain action must ‫ي‬
 be taken.
‫ئ‬
‫ﻗﻀﺎئ بﺎﻟﺘﻨﻔ�ﺬ‬ ‫اﻣﺮ‬
WRIT OF EXECUTION (n) A court order that tells a sheriff or other ‫ي‬
official to enforce a judgment.