Legal Glossary

• Author: Judith Daylen, Wendy van Tongeren Harvey, and Dennis O'Toole
• Pages: 515-521

515

Legal Glossary

Absolute disch arge: A situation in which an oender is deemed not

to have been convicted of the oence. However, since the oender pleaded

or was found guilty, the oender will still have a federal criminal record.

A judge can only order an absolute discharge if this is in t he oender’s best

interests and is not contrary to the public interest. An absolute discharge

cannot be given if the oence carries a minimum punishment or is punish-

able by imprisonment for fourteen years or life.

Acquit tal: A nding of not guilty in a cri minal case.

Act: A law pa ssed by Parliament or a provincial legi slature (also called a

statute).

Action: A judicial proceedi ng in either civil or criminal law.

Adjournment: A temporary postponement of court proceedings.

Affidavit: A sworn, written declaration that a certain set of facts is true.

Affirmation: A non-religious oath given before testifying.

Allege: Suggest that something is true without necessarily being able to

prove it.

Appeal: Examination by a higher court of a lower court or tribunal deci-

sion. e higher court may arm, vary, or reverse the original decision.

Appeara nce notice: A notice issued by a police ocer requiring the

accused’s appearance before a judge or justice of the peace to answer a

charge. is is ty pically given instead of arresting the accused.