larceny (Grand Theft or Petty Theft)
robo o hurto (Hurto Mayor o Hurto Menor)
embezzlement (embezzlement of funds)
desfalco (malversación de fondos)
acquittal
absolución o exoneración
dispute
discutir o debatir
Habeas Corpus
habeas corpus, recurso de amparo o juicio de amparo (ley de protección de derechos del detenido)
court order
orden judicial
Bail
fianza, caución
Reasonable Bail
Caución razonable (fianza justa)
criminal proceedings
diligencias penales
continuance
aplazamiento, postergación
mid-term
a medio plazo
Quo Warranto writ
¿Por cual orden judicial?
warrant
orden judicial
dismissal
desestimación / sobreseimiento
dismissal with prejudice
Sobreseimiento definitivo (sin reservas de ley)
dismissal without prejudice
sobreseimiento sin prejuicio (sobreseimiento provisional o sobreseimiento con reservas de ley)
District Attorney (DA)
Fiscal, agente del ministerio publico
case in chief
Actos probatorios (presentación del caso de la parte que tiene la carga de la prueba)
forthwith
de inmediato, al instante
benefit of the doubt
beneficio de la duda
Arraignment
lectura de cargos, instrucción de cargos, acusación formal
find someone guilty
dictaminar a alguien culpable
to be intoxicated (drunk)
embriagado, ebrio
to have food poisoning
estar intoxicado
report a crime
denunciar un delito o reportar un crimen
police report
Informe policial
to post bail
Depositar caución, poner la fianza
Complaint
Denuncia (Acusación formal)
indictment
Acusación formal
to dismiss a case
desestimar una causa / sobreseer una causa
to grant probation
otorgar el beneficio de la condena condicional
probation
libertad condicional
alleged
supuesto
alleged criminal
supuesto delincuente
felon
delincuente (delitos graves y violentos)
crime
el delito, el crimen
The People of the State of California
El Ministerio Público del Estado de California
The People/The State
El Ministerio Público
Attorney General
Fiscal
DMV
Dirección de Tránsito
Plaintiff (criminal)
querellante
Plaintiff (civil)
demandante
Defendant (criminal)
Acusado, inculpado, procesado
Defendant (civil)
demandado
Judicial Council
Judicatura
state prison
Penal estatal, prisión estatal; reclusorio
correctional
centro de rehabilitación
police station
la estación de policía, la comisaría
inmate
Recluso, preso, presidiario
violator
infractor
rapist
violador
to serve a sentence
cumplir una pena, cumplir una condena, purgar una pena
to call a case
pasar vista a la causa
to serve documents on someone
entregar documentos a alguien
Motion to set aside
Pedimento para dejar sin efecto; Pedimento de reposición; Recurso de reposición
Motion to vacate
Pedimento de invalidación, Recurso de casación (annulment) ; recurso de nulidad
motion to suppress
pedimento de exclusión de pruebas; moción para suprimir; pedimento de supresión de pruebas (ilegitimas)
In Limine Motion
Pedimento In Limine; pedimento de exclusión (de pruebas)
People rest
el estado termina la presentación de su caso; la fiscalía concluye su causa; ¡el Ministerio Publico ha dicho!
Defense rests
la defensa termina de presentar su caso; ¡la defensa ha dicho!
The burden of proof is on the People
el peso de la prueba descansa en el Ministerio Público
to call a witness
convocar un testigo
Three-party agreement
un acuerdo tripartito
to violate probation
incumplir con la condena condicional
rape
violación
statutory rape
estrupo; violación estatutario
strike that
Me corrijo; tache eso; mejor digo
rephrase the question
Reformule la pregunta
under penalty of perjury
bajo pena de perjurio
certificate of non-collusion
caución de indemnidad
verbal abuse
abuso verbal; maltrato verbal
child abuse
Abuso de menores; maltrato de menores
spousal abuse
Maltrato conyugal
alcohol abuse
Abuso de alcohol
drug abuse
abuso de drogas
breach of trust
abuso de confianza
misuse of authority
abuso de autoridad
judge
el juez
Respondent (Family Law)
parte demandada
Petitionar (Family Law)
parte actora; parte demandante
Constitutional Rights
garantías constitucionales
You have the right to be represented by an attorney
tiene derecho a representación letrada; tiene derecho a representación por un abogado
Balance (amount owed)
el saldo
racketeering
Crimen organizado, extorsión organizada
aid and abet
ayudar e incitar
child support
manutención de los hijos, pensión alimenticia para los hijos
Open Container
envase abierto
press charges
presentar cargos
Take the witness stand
Pasar a declarar / pasar al estrado
eye witness
testigo ocular
to bring to trial
llevar a juicio
reasonable doubt
duda razonable
beyond a reasonable doubt
más allá de una duda razonable
witness stand
Estrado de testigos, Banquillo de testigos
beating
una paliza
vicious
vicioso / atroz
undoubtedly
sin duda
bloodshot eyes
ojos enrojecidos o ensangrentados
backup arrived
llegó el respaldo
scanner
el escáner
Two-way handheld radio
radio de mano de 2 vias
handcuffs
esposas
pocket knife
una navaja
dashboard
el tablero
Find a match (for a name)
encontrar la pareja
speeding
exceso de velocidad
items
artículos
arrest warrant
orden de arresto
parole
libertad condicional
ALL POINTS BULLETIN
llamado de alerta
No prior record
no tenia antecedentes previo
search and seizure
registro e incautación
under custody
bajo detención
on the record
en el acta
restraining order
Orden de prohibición
free
liberar o excarcele
pay his debt to society
rendir cuentas con la ley
make no mistake
que no le quepa la menor duda
complete his sentence
cumplir su condena
as a matter of fact
de hecho / Es más
in advance
de antemano
fully empowered
tiene los plenos poderes
in this courtroom
en esta sala
parental authority
patria potestad
Guardianship
la tutela
upbringing
la crianza
undersigned
suscrito
in accordance with the law
conforme al derecho
poverty-stricken
paupérrima
forced
obligado
best interest of the child
mejor beneficio del niño
from this date forward
a partir de la fecha
shelter
el albergue
Child Support
Manutención, sustento
revealed
divulgarán
gives up
abdica
file a petition
presentar una demanda
that so requires it
que así lo requiera
Power of Attorney (POA)
carta poder
to grant
otorgar / conceder / adjudicar
Special Power of Attorney
poder especial
full and sufficient
amplio y suficiente
Bar card
tarjeta profesional
In my name and stead
en mi nombre y representación
carry out
llevar a cabo
legal proceedings
Diligencia legal
absence
ausencia
sustained injuries
sostuve lesiones
inable me
me imposibilitan
to attend
asistir
legal process
trámite
discharged
dado de alta
consequently
en consecuencia
my agent
mi apoderado
is fully empowered
queda facultado
to receive
recibir
to compromise
transigir
to drop
desistir
to substitute
sustituir
reassume
reasumir
submit to mediation
conciliar
anything related thereof
demás inherentes
is issued
se extiende
in accordance with
de conformidad con
what is contained
lo dispuesto
law of civil procedure
ley de procedimiento civil
mug shot
fotografía de reo / foto policial
” Do you solemnly swear that the testimony you are about to give in the cause now pending before this Court will be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God?”
Jura solemnemente que el testimonio que usted va a dar en la causa pendiente frente a la corte va ser la verdad, toda la verdad, y nada más que la verdad, con el amparo de Dios?
please say your full name and age for the record?
Por favor diga su nombre completo y su edad para que conste en el acta.
for the record
para que conste en el acta
so help you God
con el amparo de Dios, que Dios le ampare, poniendo a Dios por testigo, así Dios le ayude, por Dios
solemnly
solemnemente
if you can not afford a lawyer
si no puedes pagar un abogado
if you are charged with a misdemeanor
si se le acusa de un delito menor
you may pay a small fee
puede pagar una pequeña tarifa
cited
citado
Opening Arguments
argumento de apertura
closing argument
argumento final
For better or worse
para bien o para mal
fulfill
cumplir
civic duty
deber cívico
sign a waiver
firmar una renuncia
Waiver
Renuncia, abandono, exención
Hearing
audiencia
now in hearing
ahora en audiencia
Prescription medicines
medicina recetada
impair
perjudicar / impedir
bound
obligado
terms
términos / condiciones
withdraw
retirar
plea
declaración
have tendered
ha presentado
rephrase
expresar de otro modo
Matter
el asunto
file
presentar
file a petition
presentar un documento acusatorio
proceedings
diligencias
to settle
resolver
charged with
acusado de
device
dispositivo, aparato
burgandy (color)
granate
patrol
la patrulla
station wagon
vagoneta
assigned
asignado
offender
trasgresor, infractor
acknowledge
reconocer
glove compartment
la guantera
field test
la prueba en sitio
controlled substances
sustancias reguladas / controladas
towed
remolcado
tow yard
Lote de carros remolcados/corralón
accordingly
como corresponde, en consecuencia
chain of custody
Cadena de custodia
traffic stop
detención vial
teal
verde azulado
wafting
ajitaba
license plate
la placa
stop sign
la señal de alto
to disperse
dispersar
Spiked Lemonade
limonada picada
ski mask
pasamontañas
electrical tape
cinta aislante
registration (of a car)
registro de circulación
did not match
no coincidian
Failure to display current license
fallar de exponer la place
unmarked patrol car
patrulla incubierta
souped-up
modificado
Ran a stop sign
pasó un alto
Hint of alcohol
leve olor a alcohol
drew
saqué / desenfundé
at gunpoint
a punta de pistola
reluctantly
de mala gana
hood
el capó
inspected
Inspeccionado
center console
consola central
booked
fichado
illegal entry
entrada de manera ilícita
enterprises
empresas
they lifted fingerprints
levantaron huellas
Pry marks
señales de haber sido forzado
Fingerprint Expert
Perito en huellas dactilares
Database
banco de datos
perpetrator
el autor
Extensive criminal record
amplios antecedentes penales
arson
delito de incendio
Pawn shop/broker
Casa de empeño / tienda de empeño
removed
quitado
he stalled
demoró
questioned
interrogado
grocery market
mercado
loss prevention officer
agente de prevención de pérdidas
police operator
operadora (or coordinadora) de llamadas de la policia
cahoots
confabulado
nail clippers
cortauñas
nail file/emery board
lima para las uñas
paper clip
sujetapapeles
couldn’t make ends meet
no le alcanzaba
handgun
arma corta / pistola
tried to stop
intentaron de detener
broadcast
emitir
corduroy
de pana
Custodial Interrogation
interrogación bajo custodia
dispatched
enviado
place him under custody
colocarlo bajo detención
bartender
cantinero
demur
to object
Default
fail to do something required to do
Deponent
Person giving testimony
Discovery
The pretrial procedures used by the parties to obtain information about
the case from the other parties in order to prepare for trial. (Exchange of evidence)
Dismiss trial without prejudice
Without right to a new trial
Dismiss case with prejudice
Without a right to a new trial
Diversion
The suspension of criminal prosecution of an offender. The offender may
be asked to participate in a treatment or supervisory program in exchange for his
agreement to stop or to suspend prosecution. (alternate program)
Hearsay evidence, testimony
A written or oral out-of-court statement offered to prove the truth of the
matter asserted. Hearsay is inadmissible into evidence, unless one or more of the hearsay
exceptions apply.
Heretofore
up to this time
Hold harmless
of, relating to, or being an agreement between parties in which one assumes the potential liability for injury that may arise from a situation and thus relieves the other of liability
hung jury
no unanimous decision
Indictment
A formal written accusation submitted to a grand jury by a prosecutor,
charging one or more persons with one or more crimes. The grand jury must determine
whether the person or persons named should be prosecuted for the crime charged, in
which case the indictment is endorsed by the foreman of the grand jury as a true bill. An
indictment authorizes trial of the persons named for the crimes charged.
Indict
to accuse formally
Interdiction
Prohibition
Intestate
having made no valid will
Double Jeopardy
Trial of a person by the same jurisdiction more than once for
the same crime. The U.S. Constitution prohibits subjecting persons to double jeopardy.
Jurisdiction
The power to hear and to decide cases. Jurisdiction exists over
particular types of cases (i.e., over subject matter), and over parties (i.e., personal
jurisdiction). Also used to refer to a particular unit of government (e.g., a state),
particularly with respect to its judicial powers (e.g., different jurisdictions have different
legal tests for insanity).
Larceny
theft
Lechery
lewdness
Levy
tax or fee
Libel
written defamation
Parole
A conditional release from imprisonment which entitles the person receiving
the parole to serve the remainder of his term outside of prison if he satisfactorily
complies with all the terms and conditions connected therewith.
Plea bargain
Plea negotiations can center around the defendant’s pleading guilty to a lesser offense, or
to only one or several of the counts in a multi-count indictment or information. In return,
the defendant seeks to obtain concessions as to the type or length of his sentence or the
reduction or elimination of charges against him.
Peremptory challenge
The right of a party to exclude a prospective juror from
serving on the jury for any reason and without explanation, subject to the civil rights
laws.
Probable cause
Reasonable ground for belief that certain facts exist.
Allegation
n. a statement of claimed fact contained in a complaint (a written pleading filed to begin a lawsuit), a criminal charge, or an affirmative defense (part of the written answer to a complaint). Until each statement is proved it is only an allegation. Some allegations are made “on information and belief” if the person making the statement is not sure of a fact.
Allow the Claim
To decide a claim in favor of the party asserting it. Also to deny
a pre-trial motion to dismiss a claim and thereby to allow the proponent to continue
litigating it.
Arrears
That which is unpaid although due to be paid. A person “in arrears” is
behind in payment.
Asked and Answered
An objection that a question to a witness is cumulative,
that is, it has already been asked by counsel and answered by the witness.
Attorney General
The chief law enforcement officer of the federal government
and generally of a state government. His office represents the government and its
agencies in court, including assisting or serving as prosecutors in the prosecution of
criminal cases.
Bail Forfeiture
Loss of bail status by order of a judge, usually upon a defendant’s
failure to appear.
Bench Trial
Trial held before a judge sitting without a jury. It usually requires
waiver by the defendant of a jury trial.
Beyond a reasonable Doubt
- Burden of proof which prosecution must meet
to convict a criminal defendant. See “reasonable doubt,” below.
Bill of particulars
A written statement of the particulars of the charges or
claims against the defendant or another party.
Bonding over
Act by which a judge or magistrate requires a person to furnish bail
or to enter into a recognizance as a condition to his release from custody to ensure that he
will appear for trial, attend as a witness, or perform some other act.
Magistrate
A civil or lay judge or other official who is responsible for administering and enforcing the laws, usually by holding hearings on minor offenses. A judge that hears traffic ticket cases and fines people is an example of a magistrate.
Breach of Conditions
Violation by a parolee of the conditions of his parole,
which may result in revocation of parole and incarceration. Also failure of an event to
occur which is a condition to a party’s performance under a contract.
Brief
A document prepared by counsel setting out argument on a particular matter in
dispute.
Case Law
the law as established by the outcome of former cases.
Caveat
A warning to someone to be careful. Also a limitation or qualification on
something stated or agreed to. Also a proceeding to challenge the validity of a will.
Chain of Custody
The sequence of persons who have possession of a thing to be
offered as evidence. The party who offers certain things into evidence, such as the
narcotics in a drug case, must often prove who had custody of the evidence from the time
it came under the party’s control until the time it is offered into evidence to ensure that
the evidence is what the party contends it is.
to challenge
To object or except to. In jury selection, to object to the inclusion
in the jury of a particular prospective juror.
Challenge for Cause
Motion that a prospective juror be excused from service in
a particular case because of bias, incompetence, or another reason recognized under law
as disqualifying a juror.
Admission
A voluntary oral or written statement made by a person or his lawyer that
certain facts exist or legal conclusions apply. When used in this sense, an admission may
only tend to prove guilt or liability and is not necessarily a confession of guilt or liability.
Also, in the law of evidence, any statement by an opposing party.
Affiant
The person who makes and subscribes an affidavit.
Aggravating Circumstances
Factors which tend to increase the guilt or
liability of a person for a crime or other wrongful conduct, or the punishment or other
consequences therefor.
Bench Trial
Trial held before a judge sitting without a jury. It usually requires
waiver by the defendant of a jury trial.
Bench Warrant
An arrest warrant issued by a judge.
Beyond a reasonable doubt
Burden of proof which prosecution must meet
to convict a criminal defendant. See “reasonable doubt,” below.
Bill of Particulars
A written statement of the particulars of the charges or
claims against the defendant or another party.
Chain of Venue
The removal of a case begun in a court in one location to a court
in another location.
Charge to the Jury
The final address from the judge to the jury before jury
deliberations, in which he sums up the case and instructs the jury as to the rules of law
which the jury must apply to the various issues in the case.
Citation
A written order requiring the appearance of a person at the time and place
indicated therein. It may be issued in lieu of arresting the person. If the person fails to
appear, then an arrest warrant may be issued. Also a reference to the law (e.g., court
decisions, constitution, statutes, regulations) supporting a particular legal point.
Claim
A right to or demand for money or other thing of value. More loosely, any
allegation.
Clear and Convincing Evidence
A burden of proof applicable in certain
proceedings (e.g., indefinite commitment of the mentally ill) which requires a more
convincing level of proof than the greater weight of the evidence standard used in most
civil cases, but a less convincing level of proof than the beyond a reasonable doubt
standard used in criminal cases.
Clerk of Court
Court official who supervises the administrative operations of the
court, including maintenance of case files.
Closing Argument
The final statements by the attorneys seeking to persuade the
judge or jury, as the case may be, to agree with their respective positions on the issues on
the case, drawing on the evidence admitted and applicable law.
Common Law
Body of law developed and derived through court decisions. A
common law crime is one which was or is still defined in court decisions, rather than a
statute. Also the type of legal system used in the United States, Great Britain, and
elsewhere based on common law, as opposed to the civil law system, which is based on a
central code of laws.
Commutation
Reduction of a criminal sentence.
Compensation
Damages designed to restore an injured party to his former position.
Also money or other thing of value earned for work performed.