statutes

Davis-Bacon Act is a federal law codified in Title 40 of the U.S. Code that regulates prevailing wage rates on public works projects.

• labor and employment law

A dead man's statute states that in a civil action, a party with an interest in the litigation may not testify against a dead party about communications with the dead party. In Larkin v. Metz, 398 Pa.Super.

Deadly force refers to force which is likely to cause death or serious bodily injury. The term “deadly force” is frequently seen in the field of criminal law and is a key issue for certain convictions or defenses.

Death is defined as the ending of heartbeat and respiration or brain function. This cessation must be irreversible and determined in accordance with accepted medical standards.

The death penalty is the state-sanctioned punishment of executing an individual for a specific crime.

• criminal law
• death penalty
• eighth amendment
• constitution
• U.S. CONSTITUTION
• constitutional law
• cruel and unusual punishment

Deceit is most commonly seen as the key element of the tort of fraud.  Though primarily a common law concept, deceit is sometimes defined by states in either criminal or 

Declaratory relief refers to a court’s declaratory judgment stating the rights of parties without ordering any specific action or listing awards for damages.

Decriminalization is the process through which the legislature removes criminal sanctions against an act, omission, article, or behavior which is considered a crime. Decriminalization means it would remain illegal, but the legal system would not prosecute a person for the act.

“Defense of others” is a defense to liability for an alleged crime that is in defense of a person other than oneself. It refers to a person’s right to use reasonable force to protect a third party from another person who threatens to use force on the third party.

“Defense of property” refers to an affirmative defense to liability for an alleged crime that one used force in order to protect one's property.