A chance verdict (also known as a gambling verdict) refers to a verdict that is reached not through deliberation understanding, but through chance. Thus, in a close case without the agreement of the jury, some jurors might wish to flip a coin...
legal practice/ethics
Chapter 11 bankruptcy
Chapter 11 bankruptcy is the formal process that allows debtors and creditors to resolve the problem of the debtor’s financial shortcomings through a reorganization plan; see Tamir v. United States Trustee. Accordingly, the central goal of...
Chapter 9 bankruptcy
Chapter 9 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code provides a legal remedy for insolvent municipalities to "provide adequate municipal services" to residents (In re City of Detroit). Specifically, the provisions permit municipalities to file for...
charging lien
A charging lien is defined as a type of attorney's lien under which a lawyer acquires an interest in a judgment awarded to the client. This may mean that the lawyer can eventually claim a portion of any money paid to the client due to the...
checks and balances
Checks and balances, also known as separation of powers, is a principle in the structure of government in the context of the United States Constitution. This principle ensures that the three branches of government - executive, legislative,...
Chevron deference
“Chevron deference” is referring to the doctrine of judicial deference given to administrative action. It was coined after a landmark case, Chevron U.S.A., Inc. v. Natural Resources Defense Council, Inc., 468 U.S. 837 (1984). In Chevron, the...
child custody
Child Custody: An Overview
Child custody issues arise most commonly in cases of divorce. The court of jurisdiction for the divorce proceedings also determines child custody arrangements. Under the common statutory provision, if the spouses...
church and state
Church and State is defined as a legal doctrine that provides for the separation of the State from religion in the United States. The doctrine is derived from the landmark US Supreme Court case Everson v. Board of Education, 330 U.S. 1. In...
circular reasoning
Circular reasoning is a logical fallacy in which the premise of an argument assumes the conclusion to be true. For example, a person may argue that dogs are man’s best friend because they are the friendliest animals.
See...
citation
Citation has two common definitions in a legal context:
A citation is a reference to a source that supports a statement or is otherwise related to it. In legal documents, the source may be a primary legal authority (such as a...