Veniremen refers to individuals selected either to be screened as potential jurors or to actually be jurors in a case. The term comes from old Latin venire writs in England that were required to be given to the sheriff in order for a jury to...
criminal law and procedure
venue
In general, a place or location in which something takes place. The proper place to hold a civil or criminal trial, usually because important related events have taken place there.
See, e.g. Cortez Byrd Chips, Inc. v. Bill Harbert Construction...
verdict
Definition
A jury's findings or conclusions on the factual issues presented by a case. Sometimes, the term also refers to the judge's resolution of issues in a bench trial.
Illustrative caselawSee, e.g. United States v. Booker, 543 U.S. 220...
warrantless
Warrantless means that government officers carry out a search or arrest without a warrant or any other legal authorization. The requirement of a warrant serves to protect individuals’ privacy interests against unreasonable governmental...
weight of evidence
Weight of evidence is the believability or persuasiveness of evidence in probative value, not the quantity or amount of evidence. Weight of evidence is not determined by mathematics, but depends on its effect in inducing belief. In State v....
wet reckless
Wet reckless is an informal term for a plea bargain reached where someone charged with a DUI receives a lesser charge usually for reckless driving. The charge is called “wet” because reckless charges do not include driving under the influence...
wiretapping
Wiretapping is the act of recording communications between parties, often without their consent. While wiretaps can be a powerful tool for authorities conducting criminal investigations, they are also legally at odds with the right to privacy...
witness stand
The witness stand is the location in a courtroom where a witness sits or stands while giving testimony. This is usually a platform to the left and slightly below the judge's seat. A witness called to testify is said to "take the stand."...
year and a day
Definition
A period of time running from any date until the same date in the following year, e.g. from January 1 to January 1 of the following year. At common law, the statute of limitations for filing certain claims and prosecuting certain crimes....
year and a day rule
Definition
A bright-line, common law rule that a person cannot be convicted of homicide for a death that occurs more than a year and a day after his or her act(s) that allegedly caused it. The rule arose from the difficulty of determining cause of...