In a legal context, penumbra refers to the implied rights derived from the explicitly stated guarantees in the U.S. Constitution. The term was first used by Oliver Wendell Holmes. In his 1873 law review article “The Theory of Torts,” Holmes...
the Constitution
people
People often appears as the title given in a case name to stand for the government party, with the idea that the government is representing the public in the case. For example, the title in the case People v. Thomas is representing the people...
person
In a legal context, a person is able to act in their own right, possessing legal rights and liabilities. The term “person” includes both a natural person (a living human being), and a legal person (an entity).
See also: 15...
personal autonomy
Overview
The Supreme Court does not use the phrase "personal autonomy" very often. Unlike privacy, it is not a fundamental right. As such, it is still a very limited concept regarding its impact on legal jurisprudence.
In Planned...
personal information
Personal information is contextualized data that can be used to identify a person. Personal information is closely connected to the right to privacy, which has evolved to protect the ability of individuals to determine the kind of information...
physician-assisted suicide
As noted in the concurring opinion of Myers v. Schneiderman, physician-assisted suicide is when the patient performs a life-ending act with the assistance of a physician. By early 2024, physician-assisted suicide has been legalized in Oregon...
piracy (maritime)
Piracy (within the context of maritime law) is when non-state actors commit war-like acts against ships, such as hijacking a ship, taking hostages, etc. In the United States, piracy is governed by admiralty law. Piracy is prohibited by both...
plain view doctrine
Plain view doctrine is a rule of criminal procedure which allows an officer to seize evidence of a crime without a warrant when the evidence is clearly visible. This doctrine acts as an exception to the Fourth Amendment’s right to be free...
Planned Parenthood of Southeastern Pennsylvania v. Casey (1992)
Planned Parenthood of Southeastern Pennsylvania v. Casey is the Supreme Court case that had reaffirmed the decision of Roe v. Wade (1973) prohibiting states from disallowing abortion prior to viability. However, at the time, the Court...
plea bargain
A plea bargain, also known as “negotiating a plea,” is an agreement between the prosecution and the defendant where the defendant agrees to plead guilty to the charges against them. A plea is a criminal law term referring to the accused...