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Dismissal without prejudice
A dismissal which permits the plaintiff to sue again on the same cause of action or the state to proceed again. Dismissal with prejudice bars the right to subsequently bring an action on the same cause
Defendant
The accused in a criminal case; the person from whom money or other recovery is sought in a civil case.
Recognizance
The continued, habitual or compulsive commission of law violations after first having been convicted of prior offenses.
Pardon
Action by an official of an executive branch of government relieving a criminal from a conviction.
Exclusionary rule
A rule by which evidence that was obtained illegally cannot be used in a criminal trial against a defendant. Also, in criminal cases, a rule which prevents witnesses from observing each other testify or from discussing testimony during the course of the proceedings.
Pro se
A sentence releasing a convicted criminal into the community or a treatment facility under the supervision of a probation officer, requiring compliance with certain conditions. If the conditions are not met, the court orders an "Order to Show Cause" hearing as to why probation should not be revoked and the sentence imposed.
Immunity
Legal protection from liability. There are many categories of immunity in civil and criminal law. For example, sovereign immunity protects government agencies from civil liability and judicial immunity protects judges acting in their official capacities.
Discovery
The process through which parties to an action are allowed to obtain relevant information known to other parties or nonparties before trial
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