A
Appeal: a request to a higher court to review the decision of a lower court.
Arraignment: a hearing where a defendant is informed of the criminal charges filed against him or her.
B
Bench trial: a trial held before a judge without a jury. The judge makes the final determination as to whether a defendant is guilty or not guilty.
Beyond a reasonable doubt: the idea that the proven facts of a case establish guilt.
Burden of proof: in criminal cases, the state must prove all the elements of a crime beyond a reasonable doubt.
C
Change of plea: when a defendant decides to change a previously entered plea.
Charge: an accusation that a person has committed a crime.
Citation: a police-issued order to appear before a judge or magistrate at a future date.
Contempt of court: any act intended to hinder a court’s ability to pursue justice or lessen the court’s authority.
D
Decision to preliminary hearing: A pretrial hearing to determine if a preliminary hearing will be held.
Defendant: the person accused of committing a crime.
Dismissal: an order or judgment disposing of an action or case without a trial.
Docket: a brief summary of a court proceeding.
E
Expungement: a process where a criminal conviction is erased or sealed after passage of time.
F
Felony: a crime that is more serious than those classified as misdemeanors. If convicted of a felony, offenders may be sentenced to serve prison terms in the Utah State Penitentiary.
G
Guardian ad Litem: a person designated to represent a child in a case.
Guilty verdict: a formal decision by a jury that they find a defendant guilty of the charged offense.
H
Hearing: a formal court proceeding before a judge.
Hearsay: testimony relating information that someone else has told the person testifying.
Hung jury: a jury that cannot agree upon a unanimous verdict.
I
Initial appearance: the first appearance of a defendant before a judge.
J
Jury selection: the process of selecting jury members.
M
Misdemeanor: a criminal offense that is less serious than a felony. In Utah, there are three classes of misdemeanor: class A, class B, and class C.
Mistrial: a trial which has been terminated prematurely due to a prejudicial error.
N
Not guilty verdict: a verdict rendered by a jury acquitting the defendant.
O
Order to Show Cause: a court order to appear and explain why a certain action should or should not be excused.
P
Petition: a formal written application asking for judicial action.
Plea bargain: the process where a defendant and a prosecutor work out a resolution.
Plea: a defendant’s formal declaration of guilt or innocence.
Plea in abeyance: a guilty plea suspended during probation.
Preliminary hearing: a hearing to determine if a defendant is bound over for trial.
Pre-sentence report: a report to assist in sentencing.
Pre-trial conference: meetings held to promote a fair trial.
Probation: conditional release under supervision.
R
Restitution: money an offender is ordered to repay a victim.
S
Search warrant: authorization to search and seize property.
Sentence: punishment imposed after conviction.
Statute: a law enacted by a legislative body.
Suppression hearing: a hearing to exclude illegally obtained evidence.
T
Trial: judicial review resolving a dispute of fact.
W
Warrant for arrest: a written court order authorizing arrest.