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Recognizance
The continued, habitual or compulsive commission of law violations after first having been convicted of prior offenses.
Challenge to the array
Questioning the qualifications of an entire jury panel, usually on the grounds of partiality or some fault in the process of summoning the panel.
Order to show cause
Court order requiring a party to appear and show cause why the court should not take a particular course of action. If the party fails to appear or to give sufficient reasons why the court should take no action, the court will take the action. In criminal cases, the defendant must show why probation should not be revoked.
Instruction
A direction given by the judge to the jury concerning the law to be applied in the case.
Miranda rule
The rule, pronounced in Miranda v. Arizona, that confessions are inadmissible in a criminal prosecution if the police do not advise the suspect in custody of certain rights before questioning.
Probable cause
A judicial finding that there exists reasonable grounds for belief that a person should be arrested or searched.
Mistrial
A trial, which is void because of some error.
Leading question
One that virtually instructs a witness how to answer or puts into his mouth words to be echoed back; one, which suggests to the witness the answer, desired. Ordinarily prohibited on direct examination, although allowed on cross-examination.
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