The Australian legal system is rife with extremely specialised terminology that many people may have trouble understanding. Then when you, or someone near to you may be facing a criminal charge, it’s imperative that you understand the legal terminology which is planning to show up in legal documents and after a trial. Here we’ve provided a directory of many of the more confusing terms and definitions often employed in the Australian criminal justice system.

Acquittal:
This term is used once the magistrate, jury or appeal court see that one is simple with the charges against him/her.
Affidavit:
An itemized declaration made under oath before a notary public or another authorised officer. The one who has written the declaration states that the contents are, for the best their knowledge, true.
Appeal:
To produce an appeal is to take a case to a higher court in order to challenge a decision created by a reduced court or tribunal. As an example, an appeal from a decision with the Federal Circuit Court of Australia could be made to the Federal Court. The individual that appeals is recognized as the ‘appellant’. However, it can be worth noting that does not all decisions can be appealed.
Committal Hearing:
This can be a hearing of all the so-called evidence that props up charge from the lower court with a magistrate who decides when there is sufficient evidence to the case to attend trial. In most committal hearings, there may be witnesses that are needed to provide evidence.
Complainant:
Here is the term used in court to consult the victim with the crime committed.
Defendant:
Here is the term used in court to consult the one that has faced with a criminal offence. This term is interchangeable with ‘the accused’.
Deposition:
This can be a typed copy with the evidence recorded in court.
Exhibits:
All evidence (besides evidence provided by the witnesses) needed to present the situation for the court, for example photographs, clothing, documents or some other things that could be strongly related the situation.

Indictable Offence:
A significant Criminal lawyers Brisbane which is commonly heard in a higher court before a judge along with a jury. Less serious indictable offences, termed as summary offences, are usually heard in a Local Court.
Indictment:
This can be a formal written accusation charging having it . an offence which is intended as tried in a higher court.
Jurisdiction:
Here is the extent of legal authority/power with the Court to apply regulations. As an example, australia wide the Federal Court has jurisdiction under greater than 150 Acts with the Commonwealth Parliament.
Mediation:
This can be a process whereby a neutral vacation, referred to as mediator, assists in contributing to a compromise or agreed settlement without requiring the decision of a Court.
Plaintiff:
Here is the term used to consult the person or party who initiates a civil action. To put it differently, this can be the person or party who brings in a situation contrary to the defendant, and seeks punishment to the person or individuals who committed the crime.
Plea:
This is where the accused person (the defendant) tells legal court whether are guilty you aren’t doing the charge against them. If your accused pleads guilty, an endeavor will not likely happen and the case proceeds to a sentencing hearing, which determines the punishment to the crime.
Subpoena:
A subpoena compels the appearance of an individual at the trial in order to testify and/or produce documents. This can be a court ruling, and if it can be disobeyed, the disobedient person might be in contempt of court.
Voir Dire:
This can be a legal argument in regards to the admissibility of a certain piece of evidence in court. If this argument should occur, the witness and the jury are sent out of court until it finishes.

For those who have inquiries regarding a criminal charge in Brisbane, please don’t hesitate to make contact with us. At Guest Lawyers, we focus on criminal law and will be more than happy that will help you with inquiries or concerns. Our aim is to deliver honest, respectful and simple to know legal counsel in order to slow up the stress associated with your litigation.
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