A consent divorce refers to a divorce granted where both parties agree to the divorce, and both go to a particular jurisdiction to obtain the divorce. This type of divorce is not valid if neither spouse is domiciled in the jurisdiction where...
legal history
construction
Construction refers to the process of interpreting a law or a legal document, such as a contract or will. Construction is necessary when the plain language of a law or legal document is ambiguous, or the intent of its authors is unclear or...
controlling law
Controlling law refers to the laws of the state which will be relied upon in judging disputes. Because states have widely different substantive laws, determining which body of law is controlling is often dispositive of the case. The term...
corpus delicti
Corpus delicti is a common law Latin phrase that translates to “body of the crime.” The phrase generally refers to the principle that no one should be convicted of a crime without sufficient evidence that the crime actually occurred. The rule...
court of equity
A court of equity is a type of court with the power to grant remedies other than monetary damages. These remedies include injunctions, writs, or specific performance among others. Traditionally, English courts followed a distinction between...
court of law
Historically, a court of law is a court with the power to grant monetary damages. Traditionally, English courts followed a distinction between courts of law and the courts of equity, which could only grant remedies other than monetary damages...
crime against humanity
Crimes against humanity are specific crimes committed in the context of a large-scale attack targeting civilians, regardless of their nationality. These crimes include the most egregious violations of human dignity, especially those directed...
crime against nature
Crime against nature is an umbrella term encompassing sexual offenses that are deemed “unnatural” or "contrary to the order of nature." Some jurisdictions have codified laws against the individual offenses. For example, California originally...
criminal case
A criminal case is a type of court proceeding in which a prosecutor employed by the federal, state, or local government charges a person with the commission of a crime. Criminal cases generally begin after the person is arrested and informed...
criminal insanity
Criminal insanity refers to a mental illness or disease that makes it impossible for a defendant to know they were committing a crime or to understand that their actions are wrong. A defendant found to be criminally insane can assert an...