Law lexicon
Court of original jurisdiction - A court where a matter is initiated and heard in the first instance; a trial court.
Court of record - A court in which the proceedings are recorded, transcribed, and maintained as permanent records.
Court reporter - A person who transcribes by shorthand or stenographically takes down testimony during court proceedings, a deposition, or other trial-related proceeding.
Court rules - Regulations governing practice and procedure in the various courts.
Creditor - A person to whom a debt is owed by another.
Crime - An act in violation of the penal laws of a state or the United States. A positive or negative act in violation of penal law.
Criminal justice system - The network of courts and tribunals which deal with criminal law and its enforcement.
Criminal insanity - Lack of mental capacity to do or abstain from doing a particular act; inability to distinguish right from wrong.
Criminal summons - An order commanding an accused to appear in court.
Cross-claim - A pleading which asserts a claim arising out of the same subject action as the original complaint against a co-party, i.e., one co-defendant cross claims against another co-defendant for contribution for any damages assessed against him.
Cross-examination - The questioning of a witness produced by the other side.
Cumulative sentences - Sentences for two or more crimes to run consecutively, rather than concurrently.
Custody - Detaining of a person by lawful process or authority to assure his or her appearance to any hearing; the jailing or imprisonment of a person convicted of a crime.
Source: Jurist International.
