An initial appearance refers to a court hearing where a defendant is first brought before a judge, usually after being arrested or charged with a crime. During this hearing, the defendant is informed of the charges against them, and the judge...
individual rights
insanity
Insanity is a mental illness or disease that prevents a person from fully understanding their actions. While insanity is primarily a criminal law concept, it can also be found in the laws of contracts and wills. Insanity can be either partial...
insured
An insured is a person or organization whose life, health, or property is covered by an insurance policy. The insured's loss results in the insurer's obligation to pay the proceeds of the insurance policy.
By contrast, the...
insurer
The insurer is the party in an insurance contract that promises to pay compensation. The insurer is an entity, usually an insurance company, that underwrites the insured risk.
By contrast, the insured is a person or...
inverse condemnation
Inverse condemnation is a remedy for property owners when a government takes or damages a property for public use without having brought an eminent domain proceeding. To successfully bring an action for inverse condemnation, the property...
invidious discrimination
Invidious discrimination is a legal term used to describe the act of treating a class of persons unequally in a manner that is malicious, hostile, or damaging. It refers to discrimination that is motivated by animus or ill will towards a...
involuntary civil commitment
Involuntary civil commitment refers to the legal process by which individuals are admitted into a treatment facility or supervised outpatient treatment against their wishes. This can be done for various reasons, including mental illness,...
juvenile court
A juvenile court is a court that handles cases involving crimes committed by children, or cases involving the health or welfare of children. Every state has a juvenile system in place. Juvenile courts and their subject matter jurisdiction are...
kangaroo court
The term “kangaroo court” is an idiom referring to a court whose proceedings deviate so far from accepted legal norms that they can no longer be considered fair or just. The label of kangaroo court is a severe condemnation and is generally...
knock and announce
Under common law knock-and-announce rule, a police officer executing a search warrant generally should not immediately force their way into a residence. Instead, the officer must first knock, identify themselves and their intent, and wait a...