Law and Order: English Vocabulary List

to bring a charge against an individual or organization in a law court

"The customer plans to sue the company."

"The customer plans to sue the company for negligence after suffering serious injuries from a defective product."

to officially decide and declare in a law court that someone is not guilty of a crime

"The jury decided to acquit the defendant."

"The jury took only two hours to acquit the defendant because there was simply not enough evidence to prove that he was guilty."

to announce officially that someone is guilty of a crime in a court of law

"The jury will convict the defendant."

"The jury took only three hours to convict the defendant based on the overwhelming amount of evidence presented during the trial."

to officially hold someone in a place, such as a jail, and not let them go

"The police detained the suspicious man."

"The police had to detain the suspicious individual for questioning after they found him loitering near the bank late at night."

to create or bring laws into effect through a formal process

"Congress will legislate new environmental laws."

"Congress has the power to legislate new laws regarding taxation interstate commerce and national defense as outlined in the constitution."

to try to charge someone officially with a crime in a court as the lawyer of the accuser

"The state will prosecute the criminal."

"The district attorney decided to prosecute the suspect for fraud after collecting enough evidence to prove his guilt beyond a reasonable doubt."

to make a statement as a witness in court saying something is true

"She will testify in court."

"The witness agreed to testify in court about what she had seen on the night of the crime."

a law enforcement agency controlled by the central government that deals with crimes that involve more than one state

"Federal Bureau of Investigation investigates."

"The Federal Bureau of Investigation investigates major crimes like terrorism cybercrime and public corruption."

someone who works as one of the members of a police force

"The cop arrived fast"

"The cop arrived fast at the scene and secured the area after the reported incident"

(of a police officer) dressed in civilian clothes while on duty

"The officer was plain-clothes."

"The plain-clothes police officer pretended to be a tourist while watching for pickpockets in the crowded subway station."

a pair of rings made of metal with a chain attached to them, used for putting on the wrists of prisoners

"The handcuff was tight"

"The handcuff was tight as the officer detained the suspect during the arrest procedure"

the act of going around a place at regular intervals to prevent a crime or wrongdoing from being committed

"The security guard does a patrol of the building every two hours."

"A patrol is a group of soldiers or officers sent out to monitor a specific area"

a person in a law court who is sued by someone else or is accused of committing a crime

"The defendant was found guilty."

"The defendant in a criminal trial is the individual formally charged with a crime who must defend themselves against the state's accusations and evidence."

a person who acts as a judge in a law court and deals with minor offenses

"The magistrate listened carefully to the evidence in the case."

"A magistrate is a junior judicial officer who presides over minor criminal cases and preliminary hearings"

an order given by a judge or court regarding a case

"Court order was issued."

"The judge issued a court order requiring the company to stop polluting the river immediately."

a complaint or claim that someone brings to a law court for settlement

"The lawsuit began today"

"The lawsuit began today involving a dispute between two major international corporations"

the action or process of making something legal

"Legalization debate continues."

"The legalization of recreational marijuana remains controversial despite its medical benefits for certain patients."

referring to a legal work that is done free of charge, often by a lawyer

"She does pro bono work."

"The lawyer took the case pro bono because the defendant could not afford to pay for legal representation."

a formal statement saying something is true, particularly made by a witness in court

"He gave his testimony today."

"The witness's testimony in court was crucial because it helped the jury understand exactly what had happened."

an order issued by a judge that authorizes the police to take specific actions

"The warrant was issued"

"The warrant was issued by the court allowing authorities to search the property"

relevant to someone or something in a particular context or situation

"This rule is applicable."

"The new safety rules are applicable to all employees regardless of their position or how long they have worked at the company."

belonging or appropriate for a court, a judge, or the administration of justice

"The system is judicial."

"The judicial system in the country is independent and judges make decisions based only on the law and the evidence presented."

creating and enforcing rules or regulations to control or govern a particular activity or industry

"The agency is regulatory."

"The regulatory agency fined the bank for violating consumer protection laws and ordered it to change its business practices immediately."

capable of causing death

"The weapon is lethal."

"The lethal poison killed the rats within minutes so the farmer placed more traps around the barn to protect his grain."

to officially tell people something

"The president declared a state of emergency."

"The president declared a state of emergency after the earthquake caused widespread destruction across several states."

a lawyer employed by a government, whose job is to prove that a person is guilty of a crime in a law court

"The public prosecutor argued."

"The public prosecutor spoke firmly during the trial presenting strong evidence against the defendant"

to inform an authority about the wrongdoings or crimes of others

"Do not rat out your friends to teachers."

"The young boy decided to rat out his friend to the teacher for cheating on the important exam."

a lawsuit concerning a problem that is shared by a group of people, which is brought to a law court on behalf of all

"The employees filed a class action lawsuit."

"The employees filed a class action lawsuit against the company for unpaid overtime wages."

to release someone until their trial after they gave an amount of money to the court

"She bails her friend out of jail."

"The defendant's family had to pay a large amount of money to bail him out of jail before the trial."

to give a severe punishment to someone who has committed a major crime

"The judge will condemn him."

"The international community will condemn the atrocities committed by the regime."

to ensure that a law or rule is followed

"Police enforce the law."

"The new regulations will strictly enforce the company's environmental protection policies."

an authorized practitioner of law who defends a person's case in a courtroom

"The advocate spoke well."

"The skilled advocate presented a compelling defense, meticulously dissecting the prosecution's evidence to protect her client's rights."

a young person who has not reached adulthood yet

"The juvenile stole the bike."

"The court decided to try the juvenile as an adult due to the severity of the crime."

a person who operates outside the boundaries of established rules and may engage in illegal activities

"The outlaw escaped again"

"The outlaw escaped again after a dramatic chase through the forest and hills"

(law) an amount of money paid to temporarily release a person from prison until their trial

"He paid the bond."

"The lawyer worked tirelessly to secure a reasonable bond for her client's release."

(law) an official gathering in a court of law, especially without the presence of the jury, to find out information about a case and listen to evidence

"The hearing was today."

"The preliminary hearing will focus on establishing the facts before the main trial commences."

a state in which a person is kept in jail or prison, particularly while waiting to be tried

"He is in custody."

"The suspect was taken into custody pending further investigation into the alleged fraud."

(law) an official written document that people sign to agree on something or accept something as true

"The declaration was formal"

"The legal declaration was signed by both parties, officially agreeing to the terms of the contract."

the state of having committed an offense or crime

"He felt guilt."

"The overwhelming evidence of his guilt led to a swift conviction by the jury."

the state of not being guilty of a crime or offense

"He proved innocence."

"The defense attorney argued passionately for her client's innocence presenting evidence that proved his alibi."

(law) a formal statement made by someone confirming or denying their accusation

"He made a guilty plea."

"The defendant entered a not guilty plea to all charges in court."

an official decision made by the jury in a court after the legal proceedings

"The verdict made her cry."

"After hours of deliberation, the jury returned a unanimous verdict of not guilty."

officially or legally unacceptable

"The ticket is invalid."

"The ticket was invalid because it had expired three days ago so the passenger had to buy a new one."

legally held accountable for the cost of something

"He is liable."

"The driver was held liable for the accident because he ran a red light and hit another car in the intersection."

working or conducted secretly under the supervision of a law enforcement agency to gather information or catch criminals

"The cop was undercover."

"The undercover detective spent six months infiltrating the gang and gathering evidence for the police to arrest all of its members."

(law) restatement of other people's words by a witness in a law court, which is not counted as evidence

"Hearsay is not evidence."

"The judge ruled that the testimony was inadmissible hearsay because the witness had no direct knowledge."

to take someone into custody

"Police pinch the thief."

"Detectives were able to pinch the suspect just as he was attempting to flee the country."