Legal glossary for court interpreters

P

Paperbound supplement

A temporary supplement to a book or books to update the serve.

Paralegal

Also, legal assistant. A person with legal skills who works under the supervision of a lawyer.

Pardon

An act of grace from governing power which mitigates punishment and restores rights and privileges forfeited on account of the offense.

Parol evidence

Oral or verbal evidence; evidence given by word of mouth in court.

Parole

Supervised release of a prisoner from imprisonment on certain prescribed conditions which entitle him to termination of his sentence.

Party

A person, business, or government agency actively involved in the prosecution of defense of a legal proceeding.

Patent

A grant to an inventor of the right to exclude others for a limited time from make, using, or selling his invention in the United States.

Patent and Trademark Office

The federal agency which examines and issues patents and registers trademarks.

Per se doctrine

Under this doctrine an activity such as price fixing can be declared as a violation of the antitrust laws without necessity of a court inquiring into the reasonableness of the activity.

Peremptory challenge

Request by a party that a judge not allow a certain prospective juror as a member of the jury. No reason or cause need be stated. (See challenge for cause.)

Periodical

A publication which appears regularly but less often than daily.

Perjury

The criminal offense of making a false statement under oath.

Permanent injunction

A court order requiring that some action be taken, or that some party refrain from taking action. It differs from forms of temporary relief, such as a temporary restraining order or preliminary injunction.

Person in need of supervision

Juvenile found to have committed a "status offense" rather than a crime that would provide a basis for a finding of delinquency. (See status offense.)

Personal property

Anything a person owns other than real estate.

Personal recognizance

In criminal proceedings, the pretrial release of a defendant without bail upon his or her promise to return to court. (See also recognizance.)

Personal representative

The person who administers an estate. If named in a will, that person's title is an executor. If there is no valid will, that person's title is an administrator.

Petitioner

The person filing an action in a court of original jurisdiction. Also, the person who appeals the judgment of a lower court. (See respondent.)

Plaintiff

A person who brings an action; the party who complains or sues in a civil action. (See complainant.)

Plea

The first pleading by a criminal defendant, the defendant's declaration in open court that he or she is guilty or not guilty. The defendant's answer to the charges made in the indictment or information.