joint tenancy Form of legal co-ownership of property which gives the survivors, when one of the owners dies, the rights to the decedent's shares of the property. Tenancy by the entirety is a special form of joint tenancy between husband and wife. Compare tenancy in common.
judge Elected or appointed public official with authority to hear and decide cases in a court of law. A judge pro tem is a temporary or visiting judge.
judgment Final disposition of a lawsuit. Default judgment is judgment rendered because of defendant fails to answer or appear. Summary judgment is judgment entered when there is no dispute as to the facts of a case, and one party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. Consent judgment occurs when a judge sanctions an agreement reached between parties. See also declaratory judgment and non obstante veredicto.
judicial officer An officer of a court; someone charged with upholding the law, administering the judicial system.
judicial review Authority of court to review and declare unconstitutional actions of other branches of government.
Judiciary Act Repealer Act (JARA) Act of 1978 that enacted 42 Pa.C.S., Pennsylvania's Judicial Code.
juridical (juh RID ih kul) Relating to law, judicial proceedings and administration of justice.
juridical day Day on which a court is in session.
Juris Doctor Doctor of Law. Law degree bestowed on those who have successfully graduated from law school.
jurisdiction Court's authority to hear and/or decide a case. Also, territory for which a court is authorized to hear cases.
jurisprudence Study of law and legal system. See also caselaw.
jurist One who is skilled or versed in the law.
jury Group of people selected according to law and sworn to decide questions of fact and render a decision about these matters. See grand jury and petit jury.
jury commissioner Court officer responsible for choosing the panel of potential jurors for a particular court term.
justiciable (jus TISH ee uh b'l) Of issues and claims which may be properly examined in court.
juvenile Person who has not yet reached age (usually 18) at which he/she can be treated as adult for purposes of criminal law.
juvenile court Court having jurisdiction over cases involving children under a specific age, usually 18.
judge Elected or appointed public official with authority to hear and decide cases in a court of law. A judge pro tem is a temporary or visiting judge.
judgment Final disposition of a lawsuit. Default judgment is judgment rendered because of defendant fails to answer or appear. Summary judgment is judgment entered when there is no dispute as to the facts of a case, and one party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. Consent judgment occurs when a judge sanctions an agreement reached between parties. See also declaratory judgment and non obstante veredicto.
judicial officer An officer of a court; someone charged with upholding the law, administering the judicial system.
judicial review Authority of court to review and declare unconstitutional actions of other branches of government.
Judiciary Act Repealer Act (JARA) Act of 1978 that enacted 42 Pa.C.S., Pennsylvania's Judicial Code.
juridical (juh RID ih kul) Relating to law, judicial proceedings and administration of justice.
juridical day Day on which a court is in session.
Juris Doctor Doctor of Law. Law degree bestowed on those who have successfully graduated from law school.
jurisdiction Court's authority to hear and/or decide a case. Also, territory for which a court is authorized to hear cases.
jurisprudence Study of law and legal system. See also caselaw.
jurist One who is skilled or versed in the law.
jury Group of people selected according to law and sworn to decide questions of fact and render a decision about these matters. See grand jury and petit jury.
jury commissioner Court officer responsible for choosing the panel of potential jurors for a particular court term.
justiciable (jus TISH ee uh b'l) Of issues and claims which may be properly examined in court.
juvenile Person who has not yet reached age (usually 18) at which he/she can be treated as adult for purposes of criminal law.
juvenile court Court having jurisdiction over cases involving children under a specific age, usually 18.