Legal glossary for court interpreters

R

Re-direct examination

Opportunity to present rebuttal evidence after one's evidence has been subjected to cross-examination.

Real property

Land, buildings, and whatever is attached or affixed to the land. Generally synonymous with the words "real estate."

Reasonable doubt

An accused person is entitled to acquittal if, in the minds of the jury, his or her guilt has not been proved beyond a "reasonable doubt;" that state of minds of jurors in which they cannot say they feel an abiding conviction as to the truth of the charge.

Reasonable person

A phrase used to denote a hypothetical person who exercises qualities of attention, knowledge, intelligence, and judgment that society requires of its members for the protection of their own interest and the interests of others. Thus, the test of negligence is based on either a failure to do something that a reasonable person, guided by considerations that ordinarily regulate conduct, would do, or on the doing of something that a reasonable and prudent (wise) person would not do.

Rebut

Evidence disproving other evidence previously given or reestablishing the credibility of challenged evidence. (See rejoinder.)

Recognizance

An obligation entered into before a court whereby the recognizor acknowledges that he will do a specific act required by law.

Record

All the documents and evidence plus transcripts of oral proceedings in a case.

Recuse

The process by which a judge is disqualified from hearing a case, on his or her own motion or upon the objection of either party.

Redress

To set right; to remedy; to compensate; to remove the causes of a grievance.

Referee

A person to whom the court refers a pending case to take testimony, hear the parties, and report back to the court. A referee is an officer with judicial powers who serves as an arm of the court.

Registered mark

Trademark with the words "Registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office" or the letter "R" enclosed within a circle.

Rehearing

Another hearing of a civil or criminal case by the same court in which the case was originally heard.

Rejoinder

Opportunity for the side that opened the case to offer limited response to evidence presented during the rebuttal by the opposing side. (See rebut.)

Remand

To send a dispute back to the court where it was originally heard. Usually it is an appellate court that remands a case for proceedings in the trial court consistent with the appellate court's ruling.

Remedy

Legal or judicial means by which a right or privilege is enforced or the violation of a right or privilege is prevented, redressed, or compensated.

Remittitur

The reduction by a judge of the damages awarded by a jury.

Removal

The transfer of a state case to federal court for trial; in civil cases, because the parties are from different states; in criminal and some civil cases, because there is a significant possibility that there could not be a fair trial in state court.

Replacement volumes

Volumes which replace books and their pocket parts when the pocket parts cause the books to become too bulky.

Replevin

An action for the recovery of a possession that has been wrongfully taken.

Reply

The response by a party to charges raised in a pleading by the other party.