Glossary
of legal terms - V
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vacate
The
judge has the ultimate power to
rule on all issues of fact and
law. The court can even vacate
a judgement if he believes it
to be improper.
vacation
time
Paid
or unpaid time off from work to
take a vacation.
vagrancy
This
is better known as loitering or
causing a public nuisance. Vagrancy
is typically the product of poverty
and mental illness. This has been
constitutionally challenged on
the basis that it should not be
a crime to be homeless.
value
The
present worth of property, given
its age and present condition.
vehicular
manslaughter
The
unintentional killing of a human
being by the reckless use of an
automobile. Most criminal charges
are based on impaired driving
as the result of drug and/or alcohol
use.
venue
The
proper court or venue in a criminal
case is the judicial district
or county in which the crime was
committed. In certain criminal
matters where the crime received
substantial publicity, the defense
lawyer may motion the court for
a change in venue. The motion
is based on the argument that
the defendant could not receive
a fair trial in the county in
which the crime took place because
jurors have been exposed to the
pretrial publicity and therefore
predisposed to decide the case
before hearing any of the evidence.
verdict
At
the conclusion of a trial the
defendant will receive the decision
of the jury regarding the defendant’s
guilt or innocence. The trial
court, when it acts as the trier
of fact, can also render a verdict.
All verdicts are subject to appeal
and review by a higher court.
veterans'
benefits
Compensation
from the government for previous
military service. Such benefits
are exempt property in bankruptcy.
veteran
status discrimination
Veteran
status discrimination occurs when
an employer treats an employee
differently because of the employee's
military veteran status.
visa
A travel document allowing a person
to seek admission to a country.
A visa may be in the form of an
immigrant visa, a nonimmigrant
visa, or a refugee visa.
visa lottery
An annual lottery conducted to
allow the admission of a limited
number of persons from certain
designated countries as immigrants.
visitation
rights
Rights
granted to the spouse who does
not have physical custody of the
child to spend specified periods
of time with the child. Visitation
rights are sometimes granted to
other relatives, such as grandparents.
vocational
rehabilitation
Training
that is paid for by an employer
or workers' compensation insurance
company for a worker whose on-the-job
injury prevents him from going
back to his old job.
void
marriage
A
marriage invalid for any purpose.
For example, a marriage between
brother and sister is invalid
from its inception and is void.
Compare Voidable Marriage.
voidable
marriage
A
marriage in which one or more
requirements was not met, but
which remains valid until a court
annuls it. For example, a marriage
entered into by persons younger
than the legal age is voidable,
but it remains a valid marriage
until a court decree of annulment.
voir
dire
French
for "speak the truth." It
is the formal questioning of prospective
jurors to determine if they could
be fair and follow the law as
it relates to their judgements
and predispositions. Prospective
jurors are asked to speak the
truth about their ideas and feelings
relative to the crime they must
judge. If the juror is so biased
or has such prejudice that he
or she could not be fair and follow
the law, the juror will be excused
and removed from serving.
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