- J -
Joint and several liability
- A legal doctrine that makes each of the parties who are
responsible for an injury, liable for all the damages awarded in a
lawsuit if the other parties responsible cannot pay.
Joint tenancy - A form of
legal co-ownership of property (also known as survivorship). At
the death of one co-owner, the surviving co-owner becomes sole
owner of the property. Tenancy by the entirety is a special form
of joint tenancy between a husband and wife.
Judge - A presiding
officer of the court.
Judgment
- The official and authentic decision of a court of justice upon
the rights and claims of parties to an action or suit submitted to
the court for determination. (See also summary judgment.)
Judgment debtor - One who
owes money as a result of a judgment in favor of a creditor.
Judicial lien - A lien
obtained by judgment or other judicial process against a debtor.
Judicial review - The
authority of a court to review the official actions of other
branches of government. Also, the authority to declare
unconstitutional the actions of other branches.
Judiciary - The branch of
government invested with judicial power to interpret and apply the
law; the court system; the body of judges; then bench.
Jurat - Certificate of
person and officer before whom a writing is sworn to.
Jurisdiction - The power
or authority of a court to hear and try a case; the geographic
area in which a court has power or the types of cases it has power
to hear.
Jurisprudence- The study
of law and the structure of the legal system.
Jury -
A certain number of men and women selected according to law and
sworn to try a question of fact or indict a person for public
offense.
Jury Administrator - The
court officer responsible for choosing the panel of persons to
serve as potential jurors for a particular court term.
Justiciable - Issues and
claims capable of being properly examined in court.
