Actual controversy is a constitutional requirement for courts to issue a declaratory judgment. The requirement stems from the Declaratory Judgment Act, 28 U.S.C. § 2201, which allows federal courts to issue declaratory judgments in the case...
THE LEGAL PROCESS
actual damages
In tort law, actual damages, also known as compensatory damages, are damages awarded by a court equivalent to the loss a party suffered. If a party’s right was technically violated but they suffered no harm or losses, a court may instead...
actual innocence
Actual innocence refers to a failure of proof defense arguing that the prosecution failed to prove all relevant elements of a charged crime beyond a reasonable doubt.
Unlike affirmative defenses, which all argue the...
actual notice
Actual notice is a notice that is given directly to a party or is personally received by a party informing them of a case that could affect their interests. In case of an actual notice, the notice is served in person as opposed to...
actuarial tables
Actuarial tables (also called life expectancy tables, mortality tables,and life tables) are statistical tools used by companies, scientists, courts, and government agencies to predict the life expectancy of a person by their age, gender, and...
actus reus
Actus reus refers to the act or omission that comprise the physical elements of a crime as required by statute. Actus reus includes only a voluntary affirmative act, or an omission (failure to act), causing a criminally proscribed result.
...ad hoc
This phrases mean “for this purpose only.” Its literal translation from the Latin is “to this.”
Common examples are an ad hoc committee or an ad hoc commission created for a specific or one-time purpose to address issues that fall outside...
ad litem
The Latin translation of ad litem is "for the suit."
Examples:
A guardian ad litem is a guardian (usually a lawyer) appointed by the court to manage the affairs of the ward as they relate to a proceeding or particular...addendum
An addendum is an addition to a finished document, such as a contract. The most common addendum is an attachment or exhibit at the end of such a document. For example, a contract to manufacture widgets may have an addendum listing the...
adequate and independent state grounds
Adequate and independent state grounds refers to the standard used by the Supreme Court to determine if it will hear a case from a state court. The Supreme Court will hear a case from a state court only if the state court judgment is...