peremptory challenge

Definition

The right to reject a certain number of prospective jurors without stating a reason, though the reason is usually written all over the attorney's face. Cannot be used for discriminatory purposes, theoretically.

Example Usage

The prosecutor used a peremptory challenge to dismiss the juror wearing a 'Question Authority' t-shirt.

Origin

From Latin 'peremptorius,' meaning 'decisive' or 'final'

Fun Fact

The Supreme Court case Batson v. Kentucky limited peremptory challenges after they were systematically used to exclude minorities from juries.

Source: Batson v. Kentucky, 476 U.S. 79 (1986)

Related Terms

Beginner

pending

The legal status of something that's been filed or initiated but not yet resolved—basically stuck in bureaucratic limbo. Cases can be pending for years while lawyers argue over procedural motions and discovery disputes. It's the judicial system's way of saying "we'll get to it eventually, probably."

⚖️ Legal

Beginner

bias

A preexisting inclination toward or against something that clouds objective judgment, like wearing prejudice-tinted glasses to a trial. In legal contexts, it's the thing that gets jurors dismissed and judges recused, because theoretically justice should be blind, not playing favorites. Everyone has biases, but lawyers spend considerable energy pretending they can eliminate them from the courtroom.

⚖️ Legal

Intermediate

cessation

The fancy corporate and legal term for 'stopping' that makes temporary or permanent discontinuation sound more official and less like giving up. In employment law, it's what happens before the lawyers get involved. It's the word that turns 'we quit' into 'there was a cessation of operations,' adding gravitas to what might just be failure.

⚖️ Legal

Beginner

hearsay

Second-hand information that someone heard from someone else, generally inadmissible in court because it's the legal equivalent of playing telephone. If you didn't witness it yourself, the court probably doesn't want to hear about it.

⚖️ Legal

Advanced

sine qua non

An essential condition or element, literally 'without which, not.' In causation analysis, it's the 'but for' test—but for this action, would the harm have occurred?

⚖️ Legal

Intermediate

arbitrate

To play referee in a dispute by making a binding decision, typically when two parties can't adult their way through negotiations. It's less formal than court but more official than rock-paper-scissors, often used to avoid expensive litigation. The arbitrator's decision is usually final, so choose your arbitrator wisely—or prepare to live with consequences.

⚖️ Legal

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