Terms Used In New York Laws > Criminal Procedure > Part 3 - Special Proceedings and Miscellaneous Procedures

• Academic year: shall mean the regular school year beginning July first and ending June thirtieth. See N.Y. Education Law 651
• accredited investor: shall mean (i) a natural person whose individual net worth (or joint net worth with his or her spouse) will exceed one million dollars at the time of purchase, or (ii) a natural person who has an individual income (exclusive of any income attributable to a spouse) of more than two hundred thousand dollars for

  the past two years or joint income with a spouse of more than three hundred thousand dollars in each of those years and has a reasonable expectation of reaching the same income level in the current year, or (iii) an entity in which each equity owner is an accredited investor under subparagraph (i) or (ii) of this paragraph, or (iv) either an organization described in section 501 (C)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, a corporation, a Massachusetts or similar business trust, or a partnership, in each case not formed for the specific purpose of acquiring the securities being offered, and with total assets in excess of five million dollars, or (v) a trust, with total assets in excess of five million dollars, not formed for the specific purpose of acquiring the securities, whose purchase of the securities is directed by a person who has such knowledge and experience in business and financial matters that he or she is capable, as defined by the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, of evaluating the merits and risks of the prospective investment, or a bank, as defined in section 3(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, (A) acting in its fiduciary capacity as trustee, or (B) subscribing for the purchase of securities being offered on its own behalf. See N.Y. Arts and Cultural Affairs Law 23.03

• Acquittal:
  1. Judgement that a criminal defendant has not been proved guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
  2. A verdict of "not guilty."
   
• Adjourn: A motion to adjourn a legislative chamber or a committee, if passed, ends that day's session.
• Adoption: means the delivery to any natural person eighteen years of age or older, for the limited purpose of harboring a pet, of any dog or cat, seized or surrendered. See N.Y. Agriculture and Markets Law 350
• adoptor: shall mean a person adopting and "adoptive child" or "adoptee" shall mean a person adopted. See N.Y. Domestic Relations Law 109
• advance ticket: shall mean a ticket of admission sold more than twelve hours in advance of the time of performance of the event for which the ticket is purchased. See N.Y. Arts and Cultural Affairs Law 23.03
• Affidavit: A written statement of facts confirmed by the oath of the party making it, before a notary or officer having authority to administer oaths.
• Allegation: something that someone says happened.
• Animal: as used in this article , includes every living creature except a human being;

  2. See N.Y. Agriculture and Markets Law 350

• Animal: means a dog or a cat. See N.Y. Agriculture and Markets Law 400
• Annuity: A periodic (usually annual) payment of a fixed sum of money for either the life of the recipient or for a fixed number of years. A series of payments under a contract from an insurance company, a trust company, or an individual. Annuity payments are made at regular intervals over a period of more than one full year.
• Answer: The formal written statement by a defendant responding to a civil complaint and setting forth the grounds for defense.
• Appeal: A request made after a trial, asking another court (usually the court of appeals) to decide whether the trial was conducted properly. To make such a request is "to appeal" or "to take an appeal." One who appeals is called the appellant.
• Appearance bond: means a bail bond in which the only obligor is the principal. See N.Y. Criminal Procedure Law 500.10
• Appellate: About appeals; an appellate court has the power to review the judgement of another lower court or tribunal.
• applicant: includes that person designated to act for him and perform his official function in and during his actual absence or disability. See N.Y. Criminal Procedure Law 700.05
• Applicant: means a district attorney, an assistant district attorney, and when empowered by law to conduct an investigation of or to prosecute or participate in the prosecution of a designated crime, the attorney general, an assistant attorney general, the deputy attorney general in charge of the statewide organized crime task force, or an assistant deputy attorney general of such task force. See N.Y. Criminal Procedure Law 705.00
• Appraisal: A determination of property value.
• Appropriate institution: means : (a) a hospital operated by the office of mental health or a developmental center operated by the office for people with developmental disabilities; or (b) a hospital licensed by the department of health which operates a psychiatric unit licensed by the office of mental health, as determined by the commissioner provided, however, that any such hospital that is not operated by the state shall qualify as an "appropriate institution" only pursuant to the terms of an agreement between the commissioner and the hospital. See N.Y. Criminal Procedure Law 730.10
• Arraignment: A proceeding in which an individual who is accused of committing a crime is brought into court, told of the charges, and asked to plead guilty or not guilty.
• Arrest: Taking physical custody of a person by lawful authority.
• Assets: (1) The property comprising the estate of a deceased person, or (2) the property in a trust account.
• Attachment: A procedure by which a person's property is seized to pay judgments levied by the court.
• Authorized agency: shall mean an authorized agency as defined in the social services law and, for the purpose of this article, shall include such corporations incorporated or organized under the laws of this state as may be specifically authorized by their certificates of incorporation to receive children for purposes of adoption. See N.Y. Domestic Relations Law 109
• Autographed: means bearing the actual signature of a sports personality, signed by such individual's own hand. See N.Y. Arts and Cultural Affairs Law 60.01
• Bail: means cash bail, a bail bond or money paid with a credit card. See N.Y. Criminal Procedure Law 500.10
• Bail: Security given for the release of a criminal defendant or witness from legal custody (usually in the form of money) to secure his/her appearance on the day and time appointed.
• Bail bond: means a written undertaking, executed by one or more obligors, that the principal designated in such instrument will, while at liberty as a result of an order fixing bail and of the posting of the bail bond in satisfaction thereof, appear in a designated criminal action or proceeding when his attendance is required and otherwise

  render himself amenable to the orders and processes of the court, and that in the event that he fails to do so the obligor or obligors will pay to the people of the state of New York a specified sum of money, in the amount designated in the order fixing bail. See N.Y. Criminal Procedure Law 500.10

• Bankruptcy: Refers to statutes and judicial proceedings involving persons or businesses that cannot pay their debts and seek the assistance of the court in getting a fresh start. Under the protection of the bankruptcy court, debtors may discharge their debts, perhaps by paying a portion of each debt. Bankruptcy judges preside over these proceedings.
• Bequest: Property gifted by will.
• Board: shall mean the board of trustees of the New York state higher education services corporation. See N.Y. Education Law 651
• borrower: shall mean (i) a student who is a resident of New York state attending, or accepted for enrollment at, an eligible college, or (ii) the parent, legal guardian, or sponsor, as defined by the corporation in regulation, of a student attending, or accepted for enrollment at, an eligible college who is a resident of New York state, and who obtains an education loan from a lending institution to pay for or finance higher education expenses under this program. See N.Y. Education Law 690
• Cash bail: means a sum of money, in the amount designated in an order fixing bail, posted by a principal or by another person on his behalf with a court or other authorized public servant or agency, upon the condition that such money will become forfeit to the people of the state of New York if the principal does not comply with the directions of a court requiring his attendance at the criminal action or proceeding involved or does not otherwise render himself amenable to the orders and processes of the court. See N.Y. Criminal Procedure Law 500.10
• Certified psychologist: means a person who is registered as a certified psychologist under article one hundred fifty-three of the education law. See N.Y. Criminal Procedure Law 730.10
• Chambers: A judge's office.
• Charge to the jury: The judge's instructions to the jury concerning the law that applies to the facts of the case on trial.
• Collectible: means an autographed sports item including, but not limited to, a photograph, book, ticket, plaque, sports program, trading card, item of sports equipment or clothing, or other sports memorabilia sold or offered for sale in or from this state by a dealer to a consumer for twenty-five dollars or more. See N.Y. Arts and Cultural Affairs Law 60.01
• Commissioner: means the state commissioner of mental health or the state commissioner of the office for people with developmental disabilities. See N.Y. Criminal Procedure Law 730.10
• Common law: The legal system that originated in England and is now in use in the United States. It is based on judicial decisions rather than legislative action.
• communication: includes conversation and discussion. See N.Y. Criminal Procedure Law 700.05
• Complaint: A written statement by the plaintiff stating the wrongs allegedly committed by the defendant.
• concert: shall mean any live performance whether musical or spoken, dramatic or nondramatic, by one or more performers, which is presented to the public in a place of entertainment, as defined in this subdivision. See N.Y. Arts and Cultural Affairs Law 23.03
• Consumer: means any natural person who purchases an autographed sports collectible from a dealer for personal, family or household purposes. See N.Y. Arts and Cultural Affairs Law 60.01
• Consumer: means any individual purchasing an animal from a pet dealer. See N.Y. Agriculture and Markets Law 400
• contents: when used with respect to a communication, includes any information concerning the identity of the parties to such communications, and the existence, substance, purport, or meaning of that communication. See N.Y. Criminal Procedure Law 700.05
• Continuance: Putting off of a hearing ot trial until a later time.
• Corporation: shall mean the New York state higher education services corporation. See N.Y. Education Law 651
• Counterclaim: A claim that a defendant makes against a plaintiff.
• Court: includes , where appropriate, a judge authorized to act as described in a particular statute, though not as a court. See N.Y. Criminal Procedure Law 500.10
• Cross examine: Questioning of a witness by the attorney for the other side.
• cruelty: includes every act, omission, or neglect, whereby unjustifiable physical pain, suffering or death is caused or permitted. See N.Y. Agriculture and Markets Law 350
• Damages: Money paid by defendants to successful plaintiffs in civil cases to compensate the plaintiffs for their injuries.
• dealer: includes an auctioneer who sells such collectibles at public auction, and includes persons who are consignors or principals of auctioneers. See N.Y. Arts and Cultural Affairs Law 60.01
• Deed: The legal instrument used to transfer title in real property from one person to another.
• Defendant: In a civil suit, the person complained against; in a criminal case, the person accused of the crime.
• Defendant: means a person who has been charged by an accusatory instrument with the commission of an offense. See N.Y. Criminal Procedure Law 710.10
• Dependent: A person dependent for support upon another.
• Deposition: An oral statement made before an officer authorized by law to administer oaths. Such statements are often taken to examine potential witnesses, to obtain discovery, or to be used later in trial.
• Description: means any representation in writing, including but not limited to a representation contained in an advertisement, invoice, catalog, flyer, sign, brochure, or other commercial or promotional material. See N.Y. Arts and Cultural Affairs Law 60.01
• Designated crime: means any crime included within the definition of a "designated offense" in subdivision eight of section 700. See N.Y. Criminal Procedure Law 705.00
• Designated offense: means any one or more of the following crimes:

  (a) A conspiracy to commit any offense enumerated in the following paragraphs of this subdivision, or an attempt to commit any felony enumerated in the following paragraphs of this subdivision which attempt would itself constitute a felony;

  (b) Any of the following felonies: assault in the second degree as defined in § 120. See N.Y. Criminal Procedure Law 700.05

• Devise: To gift property by will.
• Director: means (a) the director of a state hospital operated by the office of mental health or the director of a developmental center operated by the office for people with developmental disabilities, or (b) the director of a hospital operated by any local government of the state that has been certified by the commissioner as having adequate facilities to examine a defendant to determine if he is an incapacitated person, or (c) the director of community mental health services. See N.Y. Criminal Procedure Law 730.10
• Discovery: Lawyers' examination, before trial, of facts and documents in possession of the opponents to help the lawyers prepare for trial.
• Dismissal: The dropping of a case by the judge without further consideration or hearing. ^Source:
• Disposition: means the disposal of a record by destruction, sale, gift, transfer to the local government archives, or by other authorized means. See N.Y. Arts and Cultural Affairs Law 57.17
• Docket: A log containing brief entries of court proceedings.
• Donor: The person who makes a gift.
• Eavesdropping: means "wiretapping" "mechanical overhearing of conversation" or the "intercepting or accessing of an electronic communication" as those terms are defined in § 250. See N.Y. Criminal Procedure Law 700.05
• Eavesdropping: means "wiretapping" "mechanical overhearing of a conversation" or "intercepting or accessing of an electronic communication" as those terms are defined in section 250. See N.Y. Criminal Procedure Law 710.10
• Eavesdropping warrant: means an order of a justice authorizing or approving eavesdropping. See N.Y. Criminal Procedure Law 700.05
• Education loan: shall mean any loan that is made under this program to finance or refinance higher education expenses at an eligible college. See N.Y. Education Law 690
• Electronic appearance: means an appearance in which various participants, including the defendant, are not present in the court, but in which, by means of an independent audio-visual system, (a) all of the participants are simultaneously able to see and hear reproductions of the voices and images of the judge, counsel, defendant, police officer, and any other appropriate participant, and (b) counsel is present with the defendant, or if the defendant waives the presence of counsel on the record, the defendant and his or her counsel are able to see and hear each other and engage in private conversation. See N.Y. Criminal Procedure Law 182.10
• Electronic arraignment: means an arraignment in which various participants, including the defendant, are not personally present in the court but in which all of the participants are simultaneously able to see and hear reproductions of the voices and images of the judge, counsels, defendant, police officer and any other appropriate participant, by means of an independent audio-visual system. See N.Y. Criminal Procedure Law 185.10
• Eligible youth: means a youth who is eligible to be found a youthful offender. See N.Y. Criminal Procedure Law 720.10
• Entertainment: means all forms of entertainment including, but not limited to, theatrical or operatic performances, concerts, motion pictures, all forms of entertainment at fair grounds, amusement parks and all types of athletic competitions including football, basketball, baseball, boxing, tennis, hockey, and any other sport, and all other forms of diversion, recreation or show. See N.Y. Arts and Cultural Affairs Law 25.03
• Entitlement: A Federal program or provision of law that requires payments to any person or unit of government that meets the eligibility criteria established by law. Entitlements constitute a binding obligation on the part of the Federal Government, and eligible recipients have legal recourse if the obligation is not fulfilled. Social Security and veterans' compensation and pensions are examples of entitlement programs.
• Equitable: Pertaining to civil suits in "equity" rather than in "law." In English legal history, the courts of "law" could order the payment of damages and could afford no other remedy. See damages. A separate court of "equity" could order someone to do something or to cease to do something. See, e.g., injunction. In American jurisprudence, the federal courts have both legal and equitable power, but the distinction is still an important one. For example, a trial by jury is normally available in "law" cases but not in "equity" cases. ^{Source: U.S. Courts}
• Escrow: Money given to a third party to be held for payment until certain conditions are met.
• Established price: means the price fixed at the time of sale by the operator of any place of entertainment for admission thereto, which must be printed or endorsed on each ticket of admission. See N.Y. Arts and Cultural Affairs Law 25.03
• event: shall mean a theatrical production or sporting event, as those terms are defined in this subdivision, or any other public exhibition, game, show, contest or performance which is presented to the public in a place of entertainment as defined in this subdivision. See N.Y. Arts and Cultural Affairs Law 23.03
• Ex officio: Literally, by virtue of one's office.
• Examination report: means a report made by a psychiatric examiner wherein he sets forth his opinion as to whether the defendant is or is not an incapacitated person, the nature and extent of his examination and, if he finds that the defendant is an incapacitated person, his diagnosis and prognosis and a detailed statement of the reasons for his opinion by making particular reference to those aspects of the proceedings wherein the defendant lacks capacity to understand or to assist in his own defense. See N.Y. Criminal Procedure Law 730.10
• Executive authority: includes the governor, and any person performing the functions of governor in a state other than this state. See N.Y. Criminal Procedure Law 570.04
• Exigent circumstances: means conditions requiring the preservation of secrecy, and whereby there is a reasonable likelihood that a continuing investigation would be thwarted by alerting any of the

  persons subject to surveillance to the fact that such surveillance had occurred. See N.Y. Criminal Procedure Law 700.05

• Extradition: The formal process of delivering an accused or convicted person from authorities in one state to authorities in another state.
• Farm animal: as used in this article , means any ungulate, poultry, species of cattle, sheep, swine, goats, llamas, horses or fur-bearing animals, as defined in section 11-1907 of the environmental conservation law, which are raised for commercial or subsistence purposes. See N.Y. Agriculture and Markets Law 350
• Felony: A crime carrying a penalty of more than a year in prison.
• Fiduciary: A trustee, executor, or administrator.
• Final auction price: shall mean the price paid for a single ticket by a winning bidder. See N.Y. Arts and Cultural Affairs Law 25.03
• Fiscal year: The fiscal year is the accounting period for the government. For the federal government, this begins on October 1 and ends on September 30. The fiscal year is designated by the calendar year in which it ends; for example, fiscal year 2006 begins on October 1, 2005 and ends on September 30, 2006.
• Fixed Rate: Having a "fixed" rate means that the APR doesn't change based on fluctuations of some external rate (such as the "Prime Rate"). In other words, a fixed rate is a rate that is not a variable rate. A fixed APR can change over time, in several circumstances:
  • You are late making a payment or commit some other default, triggering an increase to a penalty rate
  • The bank changes the terms of your account and you do not reject the change.
  • The rate expires (if the rate was fixed for only a certain period of time).
• Forbearance: A means of handling a delinquent loan. A
• Foreclosure: A legal process in which property that is collateral or security for a loan may be sold to help repay the loan when the loan is in default. ^{Source: OCC}
• Forgery: The fraudulent signing or alteration of another's name to an instrument such as a deed, mortgage, or check. The intent of the forgery is to deceive or defraud. ^{Source: OCC}
• Fraud: Intentional deception resulting in injury to another.
• Garnishment: Generally, garnishment is a court proceeding in which a creditor asks a court to order a third party who owes money to the debtor or otherwise holds assets belonging to the debtor to turn over to the creditor any of the debtor
• Gift: A voluntary transfer or conveyance of property without consideration, or for less than full and adequate consideration based on fair market value.
• Governing body: means the town board, village board of trustees, city council, county legislature or board of supervisors, board of education or board of trustees of a school district or board of cooperative educational services, board of fire commissioners or other body authorized by law to govern the affairs of a local government. See N.Y. Arts and Cultural Affairs Law 57.17
• Governor: includes any person performing the functions of governor by authority of the law of this state. See N.Y. Criminal Procedure Law 570.04
• Grace period: The number of days you'll have to pay your bill for purchases in full without triggering a finance charge. ^{Source: Federal Reserve}
• Grand jury: agreement providing that a lender will delay exercising its rights (in the case of a mortgage,
• Guardian: A person legally empowered and charged with the duty of taking care of and managing the property of another person who because of age, intellect, or health, is incapable of managing his (her) own affairs.
• Habeas corpus: A writ that is usually used to bring a prisoner before the court to determine the legality of his imprisonment. It may also be used to bring a person in custody before the court to give testimony, or to be prosecuted.
• Hearsay: Statements by a witness who did not see or hear the incident in question but heard about it from someone else. Hearsay is usually not admissible as evidence in court.
• Higher education expenses: shall mean the cost of attendance at an eligible college and shall include tuition and fees, books, room and board, and other educationally related expenses, as determined by the corporation. See N.Y. Education Law 690
• Holder: shall mean , with respect to an education loan: (i) a lender; (ii) a public benefit corporation authorized to finance the purchase or making of education loans pursuant to the public authorities law; or (iii) any assignee of such lender or public benefit corporation. See N.Y. Education Law 690
• Impeachment: (1) The process of calling something into question, as in "impeaching the testimony of a witness." (2) The constitutional process whereby the House of Representatives may "impeach" (accuse of misconduct) high officers of the federal government for trial in the Senate.
• Incapacitated person: means a defendant who as a result of mental disease or defect lacks capacity to understand the proceedings against him or to assist in his own defense. See N.Y. Criminal Procedure Law 730.10
• Indemnification: In general, a collateral contract or assurance under which one person agrees to secure another person against either anticipated financial losses or potential adverse legal consequences. ^{Source: FDIC}
• Independent audio-visual system: means an electronic system for the transmission and receiving of audio and visual signals, encompassing encoded signals, frequency domain multiplexing or other suitable means to preclude the unauthorized reception and decoding of the signals by commercially available television receivers, channel converters, or other available receiving devices. See N.Y. Criminal Procedure Law 182.10
• Independent audio-visual system: shall mean an electronic system for the transmission and receiving of audio and visual signals, encompassing encoded signals, frequency domain multiplexing or other suitable means to preclude the unauthorized reception and decoding of the signals by commercially available television receivers, channel converters, or other available receiving devices. See N.Y. Criminal Procedure Law 185.10
• 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.
• Injunction: An order of the court prohibiting (or compelling) the performance of a specific act to prevent irreparable damage or injury.
• Insurance company bail bond: means a surety bond, executed in the form prescribed by the superintendent of financial services, in which the surety-obligor is a corporation licensed by the superintendent of financial services to engage in the business of executing bail bonds. See N.Y. Criminal Procedure Law 500.10
• Intercepted communication: means (a) a telephonic or telegraphic communication which was intentionally overheard or recorded by a person other than the sender or receiver thereof, without the consent of the sender or receiver, by means of any instrument, device or equipment, or (b) a conversation or discussion which was intentionally overheard or recorded, without the consent of at least one party thereto, by a person not present thereat, by means of any instrument, device or equipment; or (c) an electronic communication which was intentionally intercepted or accessed, as that term is defined in section 250. See N.Y. Criminal Procedure Law 700.05
• Interest rate: The amount paid by a borrower to a lender in exchange for the use of the lender's money for a certain period of time. Interest is paid on loans or on debt instruments, such as notes or bonds, either at regular intervals or as part of a lump sum payment when the issue matures. ^{Source: OCC}
• Interrogatories: Written questions asked by one party of an opposing party, who must answer them in writing under oath; a discovery device in a lawsuit.
• Judge: shall mean a judge of the family court of any county in the state. See N.Y. Domestic Relations Law 109
• Judgement: The official decision of a court finally determining the respective rights and claims of the parties to a suit.
• Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
• Juror: A person who is on the jury.
• Justice: except as otherwise provided herein, means any justice of an appellate division of the judicial department in which the eavesdropping warrant is to be executed, or any justice of the supreme court of the judicial district in which the eavesdropping warrant is to be executed, or any county court judge of the county in which the eavesdropping warrant is to be executed. See N.Y. Criminal Procedure Law 700.05
• Justice: means justice as defined in subdivision four of section 700. See N.Y. Criminal Procedure Law 705.00
• Law enforcement officer: means any public servant who is empowered by law to conduct an investigation of or to make an arrest for a designated offense, and any attorney authorized by law to prosecute or participate in the prosecution of a designated offense. See N.Y. Criminal Procedure Law 700.05
• Lawful custody: shall mean a custody (a) specifically authorized by statute or (b) pursuant to judgment, decree or order of a court or (c) otherwise authorized by law. See N.Y. Domestic Relations Law 109
• lawyer: shall mean an attorney or counselor governed by Article 15 of the judiciary law, who receives remuneration or other compensation from a school district or board of cooperative educational services in exchange for legal services provided to such district or board. See N.Y. Education Law 2050
• Lease: A contract transferring the use of property or occupancy of land, space, structures, or equipment in consideration of a payment (e.g., rent). ^{Source: OCC}
• Legacy: A gift of property made by will.
• lender: shall mean any entity that itself or through an affiliate originates education loans, other than an entity authorized to finance the purchase or making of education loans through the issuance of bonds pursuant to the public authorities law. See N.Y. Education Law 690
• Liabilities: The aggregate of all debts and other legal obligations of a particular person or legal entity.
• Lien: A claim against real or personal property in satisfaction of a debt.
• Litigation: A case, controversy, or lawsuit. Participants (plaintiffs and defendants) in lawsuits are called litigants.
• Local government: means any county, city, town, village, school district, board of cooperative educational services, district corporation, public benefit corporation, public corporation, or other government created under state law that is not a state department, division, board, bureau, commission or other agency, heretofore or hereafter established by law. See N.Y. Arts and Cultural Affairs Law 57.17
• Local officer: shall mean and include a local officer as defined in § 2 of the public officers law and any officer of a public benefit corporation. See N.Y. Arts and Cultural Affairs Law 57.17
• Majority leader: see Floor Leaders
• Misdemeanor: Usually a petty offense, a less serious crime than a felony, punishable by less than a year of confinement.
• Mistrial: An invalid trial, caused by fundamental error. When a mistrial is declared, the trial must start again from the selection of the jury.
• Mortgage: The written agreement pledging property to a creditor as collateral for a loan.
• Mortgagee: The person to whom property is mortgaged and who has loaned the money.
• Not-for-profit organization: means a domestic corporation incorporated pursuant to or otherwise subject to the not-for-profit corporation law, a charitable organization registered with the department of law, a religious corporation as defined in § 66 of the general construction law, a trustee as defined in section 8-1. See N.Y. Arts and Cultural Affairs Law 25.03
• Oath: A promise to tell the truth.
• Obligor: means a person who executes a bail bond on behalf of a principal and thereby assumes the undertaking described therein. See N.Y. Criminal Procedure Law 500.10
• Operator: means any person who owns, operates, or controls a place of entertainment or who promotes or produces an entertainment. See N.Y. Arts and Cultural Affairs Law 25.03
• Oral argument: An opportunity for lawyers to summarize their position before the court and also to answer the judges' questions.
• Order of examination: means an order issued to an appropriate director by a criminal court wherein a criminal action is pending against a defendant or by a court evaluating the capacity of an alleged violator in a parole revocation proceeding pursuant to subparagraph (xii) of paragraph (f) of subdivision three of section two hundred fifty-nine-i of the executive law, or by a family court pursuant to section 322. See N.Y. Criminal Procedure Law 730.10
• Outlays: Outlays are payments made (generally through the issuance of checks or disbursement of cash) to liquidate obligations. Outlays during a fiscal year may be for payment of obligations incurred in prior years or in the same year.
• Oversight: Committee review of the activities of a Federal agency or program.
• Pen register: means a device which records or decodes electronic or other impulses which identify the numbers dialed or otherwise transmitted on the telephone line to which such device is attached, but such term does not include any device used by a provider or customer of a wire or electronic communication service for billing, or recording as an incident to billing, for communications services provided by such provider or any device used by a provider or customer of a wire communication service for cost accounting or other like purposes in the ordinary course of its business. See N.Y. Criminal Procedure Law 705.00
• Performing group: means any vocal or instrumental group seeking to use, using, advertising the use of, or promoting the name of a recording group that has previously released a commercial sound recording under the name of such recording group. See N.Y. Arts and Cultural Affairs Law 34.03
• person: shall mean an individual, firm, company, partnership, corporation, trust or association. See N.Y. Arts and Cultural Affairs Law 23.03
• Person: means any natural person, partnership, corporation, company, trust, association or other entity, however organized. See N.Y. Arts and Cultural Affairs Law 60.01
• Personal property: All property that is not real property.
• pet: means any dog or cat, and shall also mean any other domesticated animal normally maintained in or near the household of the owner or person who cares for such other domesticated animal. See N.Y. Agriculture and Markets Law 350
• Pet Dealer: means any person who engages in the sale or offering for sale of more than nine animals per year for profit to the public. See N.Y. Agriculture and Markets Law 400
• Petitioner: means a person who seeks enforcement of an order for return of a child under the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction or enforcement of a child custody determination. See N.Y. Domestic Relations Law 77
• Petty offense: A federal misdemeanor punishable by six months or less in prison. ^{Source: U.S. Courts}
• Physical structure: means the place of entertainment, or in the case where a structure either partially or wholly surrounds the place of entertainment, such surrounding structure. See N.Y. Arts and Cultural Affairs Law 25.03
• place of entertainment: shall mean a theatre, dinner theatre, hall, coliseum, convention center, arena, auditorium, stadium, concert hall, garden, outdoor space or other place of amusement operated as a for profit entity and located in this state in which theatrical productions, sporting events or other events are presented. See N.Y. Arts and Cultural Affairs Law 23.03
• Place of entertainment: means any privately or publicly owned and operated entertainment facility such as a theatre, stadium, arena, racetrack, museum, amusement park, or other place where performances, concerts, exhibits, athletic games or contests are held for which an entry fee is charged. See N.Y. Arts and Cultural Affairs Law 25.03
• Plaintiff: The person who files the complaint in a civil lawsuit.
• Plea: In a criminal case, the defendant's statement pleading "guilty" or "not guilty" in answer to the charges, a declaration made in open court.
• Plea agreement: An arrangement between the prosecutor, the defense attorney, and the defendant in which the defendant agrees to plead guilty in exchange for special considerations. ^Source:
• Pleadings: Written statements of the parties in a civil case of their positions. In the federal courts, the principal pleadings are the complaint and the answer.
• Potential testimony: means information or factual knowledge of a person who is or may be available as a witness. See N.Y. Criminal Procedure Law 710.10
• Pre-trial motion: as used in this article means any motion by a defendant which seeks an order of the court:

  (a) dismissing or reducing an indictment pursuant to article 210 or removing an action to the family court pursuant to article 722; or

  (b) dismissing an information, prosecutor's information, simplified information or misdemeanor complaint pursuant to article 170; or

  (c) granting discovery pursuant to article 245; or

  (d) granting a bill of particulars pursuant to sections 100. See N.Y. Criminal Procedure Law 255.10

• Precedent: A court decision in an earlier case with facts and law similar to a dispute currently before a court. Precedent will ordinarily govern the decision of a later similar case, unless a party can show that it was wrongly decided or that it differed in some significant way.
• President: shall mean the president of the corporation. See N.Y. Education Law 651
• Principal: means a defendant in a criminal action or proceeding, or a person adjudged a material witness therein, or any other person so involved therein that the principal may by law be compelled to appear before a court for the purpose of having such court exercise control over the principal's person to secure the principal's future attendance at the action or proceeding when required, and who in fact either is before the court for such purpose or has been before it and been subjected to such control. See N.Y. Criminal Procedure Law 500.10
• principal: shall mean and include every person or firm directly or indirectly controlling the business affairs or operations of a theatrical production company or of a ticket distributor, as defined herein. See N.Y. Arts and Cultural Affairs Law 23.03
• Private-placement adoption: shall mean any adoption other than that of a minor who has been placed for adoption by an authorized agency. See N.Y. Domestic Relations Law 109
• Probable cause: A reasonable ground for belief that the offender violated a specific law.
• Probation: A sentencing alternative to imprisonment in which the court releases convicted defendants under supervision as long as certain conditions are observed.
• Program: shall mean the New York Higher Education Loan Program established by this article. See N.Y. Education Law 690
• Prosecute: To charge someone with a crime. A prosecutor tries a criminal case on behalf of the government.
• Psychiatric examiner: means a qualified psychiatrist or a certified psychologist who has been designated by a director to examine a defendant pursuant to an order of examination. See N.Y. Criminal Procedure Law 730.10
• Public law: A public bill or joint resolution that has passed both chambers and been enacted into law. Public laws have general applicability nationwide.
• Quorum: The number of legislators that must be present to do business.
• Recess: A temporary interruption of the legislative business.
• Record: means any book, paper, map, photograph, or other information-recording device, regardless of physical form or characteristic, that is made, produced, executed, or received by any local government or officer thereof pursuant to law or in connection with the transaction of public business. See N.Y. Arts and Cultural Affairs Law 57.17
• Recording group: means any vocal or instrumental group at least one of whose members has previously released a commercial sound recording under that group's name and in which such member or members have a legal right by virtue of use or operation under the group name without having abandoned the name or affiliation with the group. See N.Y. Arts and Cultural Affairs Law 34.03
• Recourse: An arrangement in which a bank retains, in form or in substance, any credit risk directly or indirectly associated with an asset it has sold (in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles) that exceeds a pro rata share of the bank's claim on the asset. If a bank has no claim on an asset it has sold, then the retention of any credit risk is recourse. ^{Source: FDIC}
• Remainder: An interest in property that takes effect in the future at a specified time or after the occurrence of some event, such as the death of a life tenant.
• Remand: When an appellate court sends a case back to a lower court for further proceedings.
• Resale: means any sale of a ticket for entrance to a place of entertainment located within the boundaries of the state of New York other than a sale by the operator or the operator's agent who is expressly authorized to make first sales of such tickets. See N.Y. Arts and Cultural Affairs Law 25.03
• Respondent: means a person against whom a proceeding has been commenced for enforcement of an order for return of a child under the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction or enforcement of a child custody determination. See N.Y. Domestic Relations Law 77
• Restitution: The court-ordered payment of money by the defendant to the victim for damages caused by the criminal action.
• Retention period: means the minimum length of time that must elapse before a record is eligible for disposition. See N.Y. Arts and Cultural Affairs Law 57.17
• Secured bail bond: means a bail bond secured by either:

  (a) Personal property which is not exempt from execution and which, over and above all liabilities and encumbrances, has a value equal to or greater than the total amount of the undertaking; or

  (b) Real property having a value of at least twice the total amount of the undertaking. See N.Y. Criminal Procedure Law 500.10

• Securing order: means an order of a court committing a principal to the custody of the sheriff or fixing bail, where authorized, or releasing the principal on the principal's own recognizance or releasing the principal under non-monetary conditions. See N.Y. Criminal Procedure Law 500.10
• Service of process: The service of writs or summonses to the appropriate party.
• Settlement: Parties to a lawsuit resolve their difference without having a trial. Settlements often involve the payment of compensation by one party in satisfaction of the other party's claims.
• Statute: A law passed by a legislature.
• Statute of limitations: A law that sets the time within which parties must take action to enforce their rights.
• Student: shall mean any individual who is enrolled at least half-time, as defined by the commissioner, in a two year, four year, graduate or professional degree granting or certificate program at an eligible college. See N.Y. Education Law 690
• subpoena: includes a "subpoena duces tecum. See N.Y. Criminal Procedure Law 610.10
• Subpoena: A command to a witness to appear and give testimony.
• Subpoena duces tecum: A command to a witness to produce documents.
• Summons: Another word for subpoena used by the criminal justice system.
• Supplier: means any person who provides collectibles to a dealer specifically for the purposes of re-sale. See N.Y. Arts and Cultural Affairs Law 60.01
• Surety: means an obligor who is not a principal. See N.Y. Criminal Procedure Law 500.10
• Surety bond: means a bail bond in which the obligor or obligors consist of one or more sureties or of one or more sureties and the principal. See N.Y. Criminal Procedure Law 500.10
• Surrogate: shall mean the surrogate of any county in the state and any other judicial officer while acting in the capacity of surrogate. See N.Y. Domestic Relations Law 109
• Syndication: shall mean all forms, methods and devices for pooling of investment funds for the chief purpose of participating in a theatrical production company, as defined herein. See N.Y. Arts and Cultural Affairs Law 23.03
• Testify: Answer questions in court.
• Testimony: Evidence presented orally by witnesses during trials or before grand juries.
• theatrical production: shall mean those live-staged dramatic productions, dramatic-musical productions and concerts, as defined in this subdivision, which hereafter are shown to the public for profit and which are financed wholly or in part by the offering or sale in or from this state, directly, or through agents or distributors, of investment agreements, evidences of interest, limited partnerships, producer shares, equity or debt securities, pre-organization subscriptions or any other syndication participation, when any persons are offered, solicited to purchase or sell, directly or indirectly, such syndication interests for moneys or services within or from the state of New York; provided, however, that for purposes of paragraphs (h) and (i) of this subdivision a "theatrical production" shall mean any live-staged dramatic production, dramatic-musical production or concert which is presented to the public in a place of entertainment as defined in this subdivision. See N.Y. Arts and Cultural Affairs Law 23.03
• theatrical production company: shall mean any entity formed to (i) develop, produce, invest in or otherwise exploit, or any combination thereof, one or more specified or nonspecified theatrical productions, and (ii) conduct all activities related thereto. See N.Y. Arts and Cultural Affairs Law 23.03
• Ticket: means any evidence of the right of entry to any place of entertainment. See N.Y. Arts and Cultural Affairs Law 25.03
• Ticket office: means a building or other structure located other than at the place of entertainment, at which the operator or the operator's agent offers tickets for first sale to the public. See N.Y. Arts and Cultural Affairs Law 25.03
• Tort: A civil wrong or breach of a duty to another person, as outlined by law. A very common tort is negligent operation of a motor vehicle that results in property damage and personal injury in an automobile accident.
• 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.
• Trap and trace device: means a device which captures the incoming electronic or other impulses which identify the originating number of an instrument or device from which a wire or electronic communication was transmitted. See N.Y. Criminal Procedure Law 705.00
• Trial: A hearing that takes place when the defendant pleads "not guilty" and witnesses are required to come to court to give evidence.
• Trial jury: A group of citizens who hear the evidence presented by both sides at trial and determine the facts in dispute. Federal criminal juries consist of 12 persons. Federal civil juries consist of six persons.
• Trust: shall mean the trust created by section 54. See N.Y. Arts and Cultural Affairs Law 54.03
• Trustee: A person or institution holding and administering property in trust.
• Uniform Commercial Code: A set of statutes enacted by the various states to provide consistency among the states' commercial laws. It includes negotiable instruments, sales, stock transfers, trust and warehouse receipts, and bills of lading. ^{Source: OCC}
• Usury: Charging an illegally high interest rate on a loan. ^{Source: OCC}
• Variable Rate: Having a "variable" rate means that the APR changes from time to time based on fluctuations in an external rate, normally the Prime Rate. This external rate is known as the "index." If the index changes, the variable rate normally changes. Also see Fixed Rate.
• Venue: The geographical location in which a case is tried.
• Verdict: The decision of a petit jury or a judge.
• Video surveillance: means the intentional visual observation by law enforcement of a person by means of a television camera or other electronic device that is part of a television transmitting apparatus, whether or not such observation is recorded on film or video tape, without the consent of that person or another person thereat and under circumstances in which such observation in the absence of a video surveillance warrant infringes upon such person's reasonable expectation of privacy under the constitution of this state or of the United States. See N.Y. Criminal Procedure Law 700.05
• Video surveillance warrant: means an order of a justice authorizing or approving video surveillance. See N.Y. Criminal Procedure Law 700.05
• Writ: A formal written command, issued from the court, requiring the performance of a specific act.
• Youth: means a person charged with a crime alleged to have been committed when he was at least sixteen years old and less than nineteen years old or a person charged with being a juvenile offender as defined in subdivision forty-two of section 1. See N.Y. Criminal Procedure Law 720.10
• Youthful offender finding: means a finding, substituted for the conviction of an eligible youth, pursuant to a determination that the eligible youth is a youthful offender. See N.Y. Criminal Procedure Law 720.10
• Youthful offender sentence: means the sentence imposed upon a youthful offender finding. See N.Y. Criminal Procedure Law 720.10