Legal Terms and Definitions

Glossary of Legal Terms

Petition A civil pleading filed to initiate a matter in Juvenile Court, setting forth the alleged grounds for the court to take jurisdiction of the case and asking the court to do so and intervene. Arrest of judgment Postponing the effect of a judgment already entered. Locus delicti The place of the offense. Writ A petition to a court for some extraordinary relief, such as asking the court to release a defendant from imprisonment. Interstate compact A contract between member states to supervise juveniles on probation or parole, and to return delinquent juveniles who have escaped or nondelinquent juveniles who have run away, from one state to another Probate The process of proving the validity of a will. Fitness hearing A hearing held in Juvenile Court to determine the fitness of a minor for retention in Juvenile Court, and the minor's amenability to Juvenile Court resources. Must be held before any evidence is heard on a petition for detention. Such a hearing is a prerequisite to transfer of a minor's case to adult court. Also called certification hearing No-fault divorce A kind of divorce in which the parties need not cast blame on one another for the failure of the marriage.

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	Did You Know?
	The mediation process may vary depending on the mediator. Generally, mediations commence with a general session with all parties, counsel and the mediator. At the general session, there will be a discussion of the case, the issues on appeal and other matters important to settlement. Then the mediator will meet separately with each party and their counsel in separate "caucuses." In these separate sessions, the mediator will seek to foster negotiations between the parties and develop agreement.