A trial on the merits refers to a full and complete legal proceeding in which all aspects of a case are considered, including the presentation of evidence, examination of witnesses, and legal arguments. It results in a determination of facts...
courts and procedure
trial practice
Trial practice refers to the procedures and strategies employed by attorneys and other legal professionals during the preparation for and conduct during a trial. It encompasses all the activities involved in presenting a case in court, from...
trier of fact
A trier of fact is a judge or jury responsible for evaluating the evidence presented in a legal proceeding and making findings of fact. The trier of fact assesses the credibility of witnesses, weighs the evidence, draws reasonable inferences...
Tucker Act
The Tucker Act of 1887 is a federal statute, which grants the United States Court of Federal Claims jurisdiction to hear certain claims against the United States government. Although the government is generally immune to lawsuits, the Tucker...
turn state's evidence
Turn state’s evidence (also known as “turn King’s evidence”) or to "flip” means the defendant chose to reveal valuable evidence to the prosecutor, in exchange for a reduction of the charge or the dismissal of some charges. When the defendant...
UCCJEA
See: Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act (UCCJEA).
[Last updated in July of 2024 by the Wex Definitions Team]
ultimate fact
An ultimate fact is a logical conclusion derived from evidence presented during trial and is required for a claim or defense to be successful. An ultimate fact is usually inferred from a number of supporting evidentiary facts and is crucial...
unanimous
Unanimous means complete agreement in a decision made by multiple individuals or parties. During a trial, a unanimous jury means that all jurors agreed in the conclusion and verdict of the court case. Similarly, unanimous decisions in an...
unascertainable cause
Unascertainable cause is when there are multiple potential actions that resulted in an injury, but it is unclear which act actually caused the injury.
Unascertainable cause in tort law means that multiple defendants are...
uncodified
Uncodified means a principle is not written in legislative laws or statutes, but rather, exists only by virtue of the common law. That is, uncodified refers to practices or rules that exist solely through judicial decisions.
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