GUILTY or NOT? / Glossary
Legal glossary
The 44 terms that come up again and again when you judge a real court case puzzle. These are the same definitions you can tap inside the game; here, each one links to the cases in the library that turn on it.
GUILTY or NOT? is the daily court case game from LAWGAMES: a real court case puzzle every day. Read the facts as the court had them, weigh both sides, decide GUILTY or NOT, then see what the court actually ruled.
acquittal A formal finding of not guilty, either by verdict or by dismissal. After acquittal, double jeopardy bars re-prosecution.
actus reus The physical act of a crime. Together with mens rea (guilty mind), it forms the basis of criminal liability.
affirmative defense A defense that admits the act but argues it was justified or excused — e.g. self-defense, necessity, insanity.
arraignment The first court appearance where a defendant is formally charged and asked to enter a plea of guilty or not guilty.
bench trial A trial decided by a judge alone, without a jury. 1 case →
beyond a reasonable doubt The highest standard of proof in law. The prosecution must eliminate any reasonable doubt of the defendant's guilt — not just probability.
brady rule From Brady v. Maryland: the prosecution must disclose any evidence favourable to the defendant that is material to guilt or punishment.
burden of proof The obligation to prove one's claims. In criminal cases, the prosecution always bears the burden — the defendant need not prove innocence.
castle doctrine A legal principle allowing a person to use force, including deadly force, to defend their home without a duty to retreat.
chain of custody The documented chronological record showing who collected, handled, and controlled a piece of evidence to ensure its integrity.
circumstantial evidence Evidence that requires an inference to connect it to a conclusion of fact. Contrasted with direct evidence (e.g. eyewitness testimony).
constructive possession Legal possession of something even without physical control, if the person knows of it and has the ability and intent to control it.
depraved indifference A mental state involving extreme recklessness — conscious disregard for a known, substantial risk that another person will die. 2 cases →
double jeopardy The constitutional protection against being tried twice for the same offence after an acquittal or conviction.
due process The constitutional guarantee that the government must respect all legal rights owed to a person before depriving them of life, liberty, or property.
entrapment A defense where government agents induced a person to commit a crime they were not predisposed to commit on their own. 1 case →
exculpatory evidence Evidence that tends to clear the defendant of guilt. The prosecution is required to disclose such evidence to the defense (Brady rule).
exigent circumstances An emergency situation justifying warrantless police action, such as hot pursuit or imminent evidence destruction.
felony A serious crime typically punishable by more than one year in prison. More severe than a misdemeanour. 8 cases →
felony murder rule A doctrine holding all participants in a dangerous felony liable for murder if a death occurs during the commission of that felony. 2 cases →
fifth amendment Protects against self-incrimination. A defendant cannot be compelled to testify against themselves.
fourth amendment Protects against unreasonable searches and seizures. Evidence obtained in violation of the Fourth Amendment is generally excluded from trial. 1 case →
fruit of the poisonous tree Evidence obtained as a result of an illegal search or arrest. It is excluded from trial because its source (the "tree") was tainted.
habeas corpus Latin for "you shall have the body." A court order requiring a prisoner to be brought before a judge to determine if detention is lawful.
hearsay An out-of-court statement offered to prove the truth of the matter asserted. Generally inadmissible, though many exceptions exist.
indictment A formal charge issued by a grand jury stating there is sufficient evidence to try someone for a serious crime. 4 cases →
insanity defense A defense claiming the defendant lacked criminal responsibility due to a severe mental disease at the time of the act.
mens rea The mental element of a crime — the defendant's guilty mind or criminal intent. Most offences require both a guilty act and a guilty mind.
miranda rights Rights that must be read to a suspect upon arrest: the right to remain silent and the right to an attorney. From Miranda v. Arizona (1966). 3 cases →
misdemeanor A less serious crime, generally punishable by less than one year in jail or a fine. 5 cases →
motion to suppress A request to exclude evidence from trial because it was obtained illegally, typically through an unconstitutional search or coerced confession.
necessity A defense that justifies an otherwise illegal act when committed to prevent a greater harm, with no reasonable legal alternative. 2 cases →
per se Latin for "in itself." A per se offence requires no proof of harm or intent — the act alone constitutes the violation (e.g. a BAC above 0.08%).
plea bargain An agreement between prosecutor and defendant where the defendant pleads guilty, usually to a lesser charge, in exchange for a lighter sentence.
preponderance of evidence The civil standard of proof — more likely than not (over 50%). Lower than the criminal standard of beyond a reasonable doubt.
prima facie Latin for "at first appearance." A prima facie case contains enough evidence to proceed to trial without further proof at that stage.
probable cause A reasonable basis for believing that a crime has been or is being committed — the standard required for arrest or search warrants. 4 cases →
reasonable doubt Doubt based on reason and common sense — not imaginary or speculative. If any reasonable doubt exists, the verdict must be not guilty.
rico The Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act. Targets organised criminal enterprises through a pattern of racketeering activity.
right to counsel The Sixth Amendment right to have an attorney present during questioning and trial. Interrogation must stop if this right is invoked.
self-defense A justification defense permitting the use of reasonable force to protect oneself from imminent unlawful harm. 3 cases →
sixth amendment Guarantees the right to a speedy trial, an impartial jury, to confront witnesses, and to have the assistance of counsel.
strict liability Offences where the prosecution need not prove intent — the act alone is sufficient for conviction regardless of knowledge or purpose.
voir dire The process of questioning potential jurors to select an impartial jury. Also used for preliminary examination of witnesses.
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GUILTY or NOT? is the daily court case game from LAWGAMES: a real court case puzzle every day. Read the facts as the court had them, weigh both sides, decide GUILTY or NOT, then see what the court actually ruled. Every case in the library is a real, reported court decision, summarised as the court had the facts. For novelty and educational purposes only — this is not legal advice. GUILTY or NOT? is a LAWGAMES title. All property rights claimed by Bornfreund Legal Services, PC.