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Legal Term Glossary

In the fall of 2024, the Arizona Department of Child Safety (DCS) mailed letters to parents who once had an open dependency and/or severance case.

Did you receive a letter? Visit the DCS letter page for more information.

General Legal Terms

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Glossaries

Term Main definition
Opinion

Written statement issued to report the decision of an appellate court.

Parties

Persons, partnerships, corporations, businesses, or governmental organizations involved in legal proceedings.

Petit (Trial) Jury

The group of people selected to decide the facts and render a verdict in a civil or criminal trial.

Petition

Written request to the court asking for specific legal action.

Petition for Review

An application asking an appellate court to examine a ruling or decision.

Plaintiff

Someone who brings an action, such as a complaint.

Plea

Response of a defendant to the criminal charges stated; the plea is usually guilty or not guilty.

Plea Agreement

A process between the accused and the prosecution to negotiate a mutually satisfactory outcome of the case.

Synonyms - Plea Bargain
Points of Law

The legal questions that a case may raise.

Precinct

Geographic subdivision of city, town or county, used to describe the jurisdiction of a justice of the peace or for election purposes.

Preliminary Hearing

Court proceeding used to determine whether there is enough evidence against a person charged with a felony to proceed to trial.

Presiding Judge

Judge who handles the administrative duties of the court. Depending on the court, this judge may also hear cases.

Pro Per

Appearing in court for oneself, as in the case of one who does not use the services of a lawyer.

Synonyms - Pro Se
Probable Cause

Reasonable cause; there is more evidence for than against.

Probate

The legal process of establishing the validity of a will and settling an estate.

Probation

A conditional suspension of the sentence given by a court in a criminal case. If the terms of probation are completed successfully, the sentence is not imposed. If the terms of probation are violated, probation may be revoked and the sentence carried out.

Proposition 109

The constitutional amendment that required public input and the establishment of a process to review judges job performances.

Prosecutor

Attorney representing the citizens of a particular community or the state in a criminal case. This may be the city attorney, county attorney or attorney general.

Record on Appeal

Those papers, transcripts and exhibits from the trial court that are forwarded to the appellate court for review.

Redirect

The second questioning of a witness by the side that called the witness.

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