Terms Used In Alabama Code 15-2-27

  • Defendant: In a civil suit, the person complained against; in a criminal case, the person accused of the crime.
  • Indictment: The formal charge issued by a grand jury stating that there is enough evidence that the defendant committed the crime to justify having a trial; it is used primarily for felonies.
  • Transcript: A written, word-for-word record of what was said, either in a proceeding such as a trial or during some other conversation, as in a transcript of a hearing or oral deposition.
  • Trial: A hearing that takes place when the defendant pleads "not guilty" and witnesses are required to come to court to give evidence.

At any time before the delivery of the transcript to the clerk of the court to which the trial is removed, subpoenas for witnesses must be issued, on the application of either the defendant or the district attorney, by the clerk of the court in which the indictment was found, commanding such witnesses to appear at the court to which the trial is removed, which subpoenas must be executed by the sheriff and returned to the clerk of the latter court; and the clerk of the court to which the trial is removed must, after the delivery of the transcript to him, issue the subpoenas for witnesses.