Legal Glossary

jeopardy - The peril in which an accused is placed when he is properly charged with a crime before a court. Jeopardy normally attaches when the petit jury is impaneled. After such time, the accused may not be released and tried at a later date for the same offense. Subject to exception. See doublejeopardy.

joint venture - An association of persons jointly undertaking some commercial enterprise. Unlike a partnership, a joint venture does not entail a continuing relationship among the parties.

judgment - The official decision of a court disposing of a case.

jurisdiction - The legal authority of a court to hear a case or conduct other proceedings; power of the court over persons involved in a case and the subject matter of the case.

jurisprudence - Formal study of the principles on which legal rules are based and the means by which judges guide their decision making.

jury commissioner - An officer charged with the duty of selecting the names to be put into a jury wheel, or of drawing the panel of jurors for a particular term of court.

juvenile - A young person who has not yet attained the age at which he or she should be treated as an adult for purposed of criminal law.