The Australian judicial system is rife with extremely specialised terminology that most people could possibly have trouble understanding. Then when you, or someone close to you continues to be faced with a criminal charge, it’s crucial that you see the legal terminology that is planning to come up in legal documents and after a trial. Here we’ve provided a summary of a few of the more confusing terms and definitions often utilized in the Australian criminal justice system.
Acquittal:
This term is used when the magistrate, jury or appeal court realize that a person is not liable of the charges against him/her.
Affidavit:
A written declaration made under oath before a notary public or any other authorised officer. The one who has written the declaration states that the contents are, towards the better of their knowledge, true.
Appeal:
To make an appeal is always to take a case with a higher court as a way to challenge a determination manufactured by less court or tribunal. For example, an appeal coming from a decision of the Federal Circuit Court of Australia could possibly be built to the federal government Court. The individual that appeals is called the ‘appellant’. However, it really is worth noting that all decisions could be appealed.
Committal Hearing:
This is the hearing of all evidence that props up charge from the lower court by a magistrate who decides if you find sufficient evidence for that case to visit trial. In most committal hearings, there can be witnesses who are needed to provide evidence.
Complainant:
This is the saying used in court to consult the victim of the crime committed.
Defendant:
This is the saying used in court to consult the one who will be faced with an offence. This term is interchangeable with ‘the accused’.
Deposition:
This is the typed copy of the evidence recorded in court.
Exhibits:
All evidence (in addition to evidence supplied by the witnesses) needed to present the truth towards the court, including photographs, clothing, documents or other items which could possibly be tightly related to the truth.
Indictable Offence:
A serious Lawyer Brisbane that is commonly heard inside a higher court before a judge plus a jury. Less serious indictable offences, referred to as summary offences, are often heard inside a Local Court.
Indictment:
This is the formal written accusation charging you are not an offence that is should have been tried inside a higher court.
Jurisdiction:
This is the extent of legal authority/power of the Court to make use of legislation. For example, nationwide the federal government Court has jurisdiction under greater than 150 Acts of the Commonwealth Parliament.
Mediation:
This is the process whereby an impartial third party, referred to as the mediator, assists in causing an agreement or agreed settlement without requiring your choice of an Court.
Plaintiff:
This is the saying used to consult the person or party who initiates a civil action. To put it differently, this can be the person or party who brings in a situation against the defendant, and seeks punishment for that person or individuals who committed the crime.
Plea:
This is the time the accused person (the defendant) tells the court if they are guilty or otherwise doing the charge against them. If the accused pleads guilty, a trial will not likely take place and also the case proceeds with a sentencing hearing, which determines the punishment for that crime.
Subpoena:
A subpoena compels the look off somebody at a trial as a way to testify and/or produce documents. This is the order from the court, and when it really is disobeyed, the disobedient person could be in contempt of court.
Voir Dire:
This is the legal argument in regards to the admissibility of an certain little bit of evidence in court. If this argument should take place, the witness and also the jury are delivered of court until it finishes.
For those who have questions regarding a criminal charge in Brisbane, please don’t hesitate to make contact with us. Here at Guest Lawyers, we focus on criminal law and can be more than pleased that will help you with questions or concerns. The purpose to supply honest, respectful and straightforward to comprehend legal services as a way to slow up the stress connected with your litigation.
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