Trial judge is the judge of a trial court. Cases must be heard by the trial judge before reaching appellate courts. The trial judge will decide motions to dismiss, rule on whether evidence is admissible or not, empanel the jury, preside over...
THE LEGAL PROCESS
trial on the merits
A trial on the merits refers to a full and complete legal proceeding in which all aspects of a case are considered, including the presentation of evidence, examination of witnesses, and legal arguments. It results in a determination of facts...
trial practice
Trial practice refers to the procedures and strategies employed by attorneys and other legal professionals during the preparation for and conduct during a trial. It encompasses all the activities involved in presenting a case in court, from...
tribunal
A tribunal is an adjudicatory body or court of justice.
[Last updated in August of 2021 by the Wex Definitions Team]
trier of fact
A trier of fact is a judge or jury responsible for evaluating the evidence presented in a legal proceeding and making findings of fact. The trier of fact assesses the credibility of witnesses, weighs the evidence, draws reasonable inferences...
true bill
True bill (also called true bill of indictment) refers to a decision to indict a criminal defendant by a Grand Jury. When a Grand Jury decides the prosecution has provided enough evidence to show probable cause, they give a true bill which...
Tucker Act
The Tucker Act of 1887 is a federal statute, which grants the United States Court of Federal Claims jurisdiction to hear certain claims against the United States government. Although the government is generally immune to lawsuits, the Tucker...
turn state's evidence
Turn state’s evidence (also known as “turn King’s evidence”) or to "flip” means the defendant chose to reveal valuable evidence to the prosecutor, in exchange for a reduction of the charge or the dismissal of some charges. When the defendant...
turncoat witness
Turncoat witness is a witness whom the litigating party calls to provide favorable testimony but during the trial they become a hostile witness.
For example, in People v. Brown, a California Court of Appeals case, a...
Twinkie defense
The term "Twinkie defense" is an umbrella term that, in the most general sense, refers to an unconventional defensive argument. The term originated from the 1979 trial of Dan White, a San Francisco politician, who was charged with first-...