Judge’s chambers: A small room off the courtroom where the judge changes into robes and confers with lawyers. Jury room: A room outside the courtroom where the jury deliberates. Bar: A fence-like barricade that separates the spectators from the court. Bailiff: The police officer who maintains order in the court. Counsel: A name for the lawyer engaged in the trial. Both the plaintiff and the defendant have counsel. Court clerk: The person who helps with administrative duties and stores the physical exhibits introduced as evidence at the trial. Court reporter: A person who types every word said during the trial. The typewritten document is a permanent record of the trial. Defendant: The person who is accused of a crime and is being tried. Defense attorney or public defender: The lawyer who defends the accused person. A public defender is appointed if the accused is unable to pay for an attorney. Foreperson: The foreperson of the jury speaks for the entire jury. Grand Jury: A group of people who decide whether or not there is enough evidence to formally accuse someone of a crime. Judge: The legal officer who presides over the courtroom and directs and controls the trial. Plaintiff: The person who accuses another and brings the lawsuit to court. Prosecutor: A public official who brings the government’s case against a person accused of a crime and asks the court to convict that person. Trial Jury: Usually made up of six to twelve people, the jury listens to testimony from both the plantiff and defendant’s side and decides the verdict of a case. Witness: A person who gives the jury information about the case. Acquittal: A legal determination that a person who has been charged with a crime is innocent. Appeal: A request for a higher court to review a decision made by a lower court. Arraignment: When the accused is brought before the court to hear the charges against the person to plead guilty or not guilty Conviction: The result of a criminal trial in which a person is found guilty. Cross-examination: The questioning of a witness by the lawyer for the opposing side. Direct-examination: The first questioning in a trial of a witness by the lawyer who called that witness. Indictment: An accusation of a crime, made against a person by a grand jury upon the request of a prosecutor. Information: An accusation of a crime, made against a person by the prosecutor. Mistrial: A trial that becomes invalid, is essentially canceled, because of a mistake in procedure. Motion: How a lawyer asks the judge to make a decision. Objection: The opposing side finds fault with the question being asked the witness. Overruled: The judge, following an objection, decides the questions may continue. Sentence: The punishment given to a person who has been convicted of a crime. Sustained: The judge, following an objection, agrees that the line of questioning should not continue. Verdict: A verdict of guilty or not guilty is handed down by the jury. Your Honor: The way a judge is addressed in a courtroom.
