Term | Main definition |
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Counterclaim | A claim asserted by a defendant against the plaintiff. |
County Attorney | Attorney elected in each county to prosecute criminal cases on behalf of the public and to represent the county in civil matters. |
Court Administrator | Person who assists the presiding judge in managing the court. |
Court Commissioner | Person with authority to do the job of a judge in certain types of cases. |
Court of Record | Courts in which a record is made of all proceedings. Justice of the Peace and Municipal Courts are not courts of record, but they sometimes do keep records of court proceedings. |
Court Reporter | A person who records courtroom proceedings in order to be able to produce a transcript of the proceeding. |
Courtroom Clerk | Person in charge of making and keeping the docket of court proceedings and other court records. |
Crime | An act forbidden by law and punishable by fine, probation, imprisonment or death. |
Custody | See Parental Rights and Responsibilities in this Glossary. Now known as legal decision making and parenting time. |
Decree | The final decision of the court on a case brought before it. |
Default | A failure of the defendant to file the right papers within the time allowed or to appear in court during a scheduled hearing. |
Default Judgment | A court order that is issued when an opposing person fails to answer a complaint or appear for trial. |
Defendant | The person against whom a lawsuit is started; sometimes this person is called a respondent. |
Delinquent Act | An act committed by a juvenile that if committed by an adult would be a crime. |
Denial | An answer to a complaint in which the defendant denies the allegations made by the plaintiff. |
Department of Economic Security | The agency in Arizona responsible for overseeing the IV-D and public assistance programs and to coordinate their activities. |
Department of Health and Human Services | Federal agency which includes the Office of Child Support Enforcement (OCSE). |
Dependency | A relationship in which one depends on another for support in whole or in part. |
Deponent | Someone who gives a deposition. |
Deposition | Testimony taken orally or in writing outside of a courtroom by question and answer under oath. It may be read in court and may be admitted by the judge as evidence. |