Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) A federal agency which monitors the securities industry.
Self-defense The claim that an act otherwise criminal was legally justifiable because it was necessary to protect a person or property from the threat or action of another.
Self-incrimination, privilege against: The constitutional right of people to refuse to give testimony against them that could subject them to criminal prosecution. The right is guaranteed in the Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution. Asserting the right is often referred to as "taking the Fifth."
Self proving will A will whose validity does not have to be testified to in court by the witnesses to it, since the witnesses executed an affidavit reflecting proper execution of the will prior to the maker's death.
Sentence The punishment ordered by a court for a defendant convicted of a crime.
Sequester To separate. Sometimes juries are separated from outside influences during their deliberations. For example, this may occur during a highly publicized trial.
Sequestration of witnesses Keeping all witnesses (except plaintiff and defendant) out of the courtroom except for their time on the stand, and cautioning them not to discuss their testimony with other witnesses. Also referred to as "separation of witnesses."
Service of process The delivering of writs, summonses, and subpoenas by delivering them to the party named in the document. Also referred to as "service."
Settlement An agreement between the parties disposing of a lawsuit.
Settlor The person who sets up a trust. Also referred to as "grantor."
Shepardizing Method for finding subsequent development of a legal theory by tracing status of a case as legal authority.
Sheriff The executive officer of local court in some areas. In other jurisdictions the sheriff is the chief law enforcement officer of a county.
Sherman Act The basic antitrust statute prohibiting any unreasonable interference, conspiracy, restraint of trade, or monopolies with respect to interstate commerce.
Sidebar A conference between the judge and lawyers, usually in the courtroom, out of earshot of the jury and spectators.
Slander Spoken defamation which tends to injure a person's reputation.
Small Business Administration (SBA) A federal agency which provides assistance of all kinds, including loans, to small businesses.
Small Claims Court A state court that handles civil claims for small amounts of money. People often represent themselves rather than hire an attorney.
Social Security A system of federal oldage pensions for employed persons begun in 1935. A portion of the payment is deducted from the employee's salary and an equal portion is contributed by the employer.
Social Security Administration The federal agency which administers the national social security program.
Social Security Tax A payroll deduction based on gross wages paid; this amount is matched by the employer as required by the Federal Insurance Contribution Act (FICA).
Sovereign Immunity The doctrine that the government, state or federal, is immune to lawsuit unless it give its consent.
Specific performance A remedy requiring a person who has breached a contract to perform specifically what he or she has agreed to do. Specific performance is ordered when damages would be inadequate compensation.
Spendthrift trust A trust set up for the benefit of someone who the grantor believes would be incapable of managing his or her own financial affairs.
Standard of proofIndicates the degree to which the point must be proven. In a civil case, the burden of proof rests with the plaintiff, who must establish his or her case by such standards of proof as a "preponderance of evidence" or "clear and convincing evidence."
Standing The legal right to bring a lawsuit. Only a person with something at stake has standing to bring a lawsuit. Stare decisis The doctrine that, when a court has once laid down a principle of law applicable to a certain set of facts, it will adhere to that principle and apply it to future cases where the facts are substantially the same. This is a defining characteristic of the common law system followed in the U.S., Great Britain, and a few other nations.
Status offenders Youths charged with the status of being beyond the control of their legal guardian or are habitually disobedient, truant from school, or having committed other acts that would not be a crime if committed by an adult, i.e., smoking. Also referred to as minors or children in need of supervision.
Statute Legislative enactment; it may be a single act of a legislature or a body of acts which are collected and arranged for a session of a legislature.
Statute of frauds A statutory requirement that certain contracts must be in writing.
Statute of limitations A statute which limits the right of a plaintiff to file an action unless it is done within a specified time period after the occurrence which gives rise to the right to sue.
Statutory Relating to a statute; created or defined by a law.
Statutory construction Process by which a court seeks to interpret the meaning and scope of legislation.
Statutory law Laws promulgated by Congress and state legislatures. (See case law and common law.)
Statutory research Research of legislation enacted by a state or the United States.
Stay A court order halting a judicial proceeding.
Stipulation An agreement between the parties involved in a suit regulating matters incidental to trial.
Strict liability Concept applied by the courts in product liability cases that when a manufacturer presents his goods for public sale, he is representing that they are suitable for their intended use.
Strike Highlighting in the record of a case, evidence that has been improperly offered and will not be relied upon.
Subject research Research of matter by determining all law related to that matter by finding everything on the subject.
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