常見常用法律英語詞匯箋注修訂稿1（ZT）
默認分類?2007-08-25 22:43 ??閱讀3評論0?
【按】余翻閱西文法律報刊書籍之時，凡有不知者、可疑者，則筆而記之。為日既久，得百數(shù)詞。遂求諸中西著述，抉其可否，溯厥源流，加以疏證而明通之。余以所見未能精確，現(xiàn)帖之于網(wǎng)絡，望諸君子有以教我。
1、 a fortiori——更加
prep. Latin for "with even stronger reason," which applies to a situation in which if one thing is true then it can be inferred that a second thing is even more certainly true. Thus, if Abel is too young to serve as administrator, then his younger brother Cain certainly is too young.
【注】 a fortiori（更加），系拉丁語，意為“有更充分的理由”。
2、A mensa et thoro——法定分居
A mensa et thoro is a Latin term meaning "from table and bed" which became used in English as "from bed and board."
A kind of divorce which does not dissolve the marriage bond, but merely authorizes a separate life of the husband and wife. Neither spouse has the right to remarry where there is a divorce a mensa et thoro; only parties who have been awarded a divorce a vinculo matrimonii, the more common type of divorce, can do so.
【注】 即一種不解散婚姻關系的離婚。處于此種狀態(tài)的配偶均不得再婚。
3、A vinculo matrimonii——解除婚姻、離婚
literally "from the bond of marriage." Such a divorce generally enables the parties to marry again.
【注】 意為“解除婚姻關系”。
4、Ab initio——自始無效
[Latin, From the beginning; from the first act; from the inception.]。An agreement is said to be “void ab initio（自始無效）” if it has at no time had any legal validity. The illegality of the conduct or the revelation of the real facts makes the entire situation illegal ab initio (from the beginning), not just from the time the wrongful behavior occurs.
【注】 形容事件由開始時的狀態(tài)，例如合約從開始便已經(jīng)無效，稱為“The contract was void ab initio”。
『箋』 “自始無效”（void ab initio）是一項合同法律關系中廣泛運用的制度，它的意義在于，一旦某個合同或某項合同條款因違反法律或公共秩序而被宣告無效，那么宣告無效的效力將上溯到合同簽訂的那一刻起，即合同自始都是無效的。如果合同已部分履行，那么被宣告自始無效的合同的已履行部分將被恢復原狀，回到合同履行前的狀態(tài)。自始無效是一項古老的法律制度，它對于保護無效合同中善意當事人一方的利益具有極其現(xiàn)實的意義。
一般而言，合同的無效都是指自始無效。合同的無效要和合同的“撤銷”區(qū)別開來，“撤銷”指的是合同自撤銷一刻起喪失效力，而“無效”則是自始無效，經(jīng)撤銷的合同在撤銷前的履行行為依然有效。在英美法系國家，不論在以判例形式出現(xiàn)的普遍法中，還是以制定法形式出現(xiàn)的成文法中，也都貫穿著“自始無效”的原則。
5、Aberemurder——故意殺人犯
obsolete：An apparent, plain, or downright murder. It was used to distinguish a wilful murder, from a chance-medley, or manslaughter. （Source: Bouviers Law Dictionary 1856 Edition）
【注】 它通常指別于過失殺人、無過失殺人。
6、Abet——教唆、唆使、煽動
①To approve, encourage, and support (an action or a plan of action); urge and help on. ②To urge, encourage, or help (a person): abetted the thief in robbing the bank.
This word is usually applied to aiding in the commission of a crime. The word abet is most commonly used as part of the comprehensive phrase aid and abet.
【注】 指鼓動、煽動或慫恿別人做某事，特指實施犯罪。經(jīng)常用在“慫恿并教唆”短語中。這種行為稱之為教唆或?qū)嵤┙趟?實施這種行為的人稱為教唆犯。教唆犯不同于從犯。從犯必須在犯罪進行時在場并鼓勵或幫助主犯。犯罪前進行的幫助主要是同謀與促成犯罪,犯罪后進行的幫助如逃跑,均不構(gòu)成教唆；只是犯罪時到場,并且未阻止犯罪也不構(gòu)成教唆。教唆犯以前在重罪中，作為第二級主犯承擔刑事責任?，F(xiàn)在，在任何情況下，教唆犯都是作為主犯來承擔責任的。（見《牛津法律大辭典》，光明日報出版社1988年版，第2頁）
7、Abscond——潛逃、避債
to travel covertly out of the jurisdiction of the courts, or to conceal oneself in order to avoid their process.
【注】 秘密地躲藏起來以躲避逮捕或訴訟。
8、accessory——從犯
An accessory is a person who assists in the commission of a crime, but does not actually participate in the commission of the crime as a joint principal. The distinction between an accessory（從犯） and a principal（主犯） is a question of fact and degree:
●The principal is the one whose acts or omissions, accompanied by the relevant mens rea（犯罪意圖）, are the most immediate cause of the actus reus (Latin for "guilty act"，即犯罪行為).
●If two or more people are directly responsible for the actus reus, they can be charged as joint principals (see common purpose. The test to distinguish a joint principal from an accessory is whether the defendant independently contributed to causing the actus reus rather than merely giving generalised and/or limited help and encouragement.
In some jurisdictions, an accessory is distinguished from an accomplice（同謀、幫兇）, who normally is present at the crime and participates in some way. A person who incites another to a crime will become a member of a conspiracy if agreement is reached, and may then be considered an accessory or a joint principal if the crime is eventually committed.
The concept of accessory is part of English common law, and been inherited by those countries with a more or less Anglo-American legal system. The concept is less used in countries with completely different legal traditions. The specific terms accessory-before-the-fact and accessory-after-the-fact are more commonly used in England and the United Kingdom than in the United States and are more common in historical than in current usage.
【注】 從犯，是相對于主犯在犯罪活動中的地位而言，是指在共同犯罪中起次要或者輔助作用的罪犯。從犯可為：（一）在共同犯罪中起次要作用的。這種從犯在犯罪集團活動中，聽從主犯的指揮，從事某一方面的犯罪活動；或者在一般共同犯罪活動中，雖然參與了實施犯罪，但沒有直接造成嚴重的后果和情節(jié)不很嚴重。（二）在共同犯罪中起輔助作用的。這種從犯一般是為共同犯罪活動提供犯罪工具、指點犯罪地點和對象、窺探被害人的行蹤、排除障礙、創(chuàng)造有利條件，事先允許窩藏其他共同犯罪人和窩贓、銷贓等等。他們都不直接參加實施犯罪的行為。
從犯，不同于同謀。
9、Accelerated Rehabilitation——察看
Also called AR. A program that gives persons charged with a crime or motor vehicle violation for the first time a second chance. The person is placed on probation for up to two years. If probation is completed satisfactorily, the charges are dismissed.
【注】 當一個因犯罪或機動車輛違法而被控告時將被給予一個察看期。察看器一般是2年。察看期如果滿意的話，控告將被取消。
10、Accused——被告
The generic name for the defendant in a criminal case.
【注】 Accused通常指刑事案件的被告，民事訴訟的被告稱為Defendant；而申索案件中的被索償?shù)囊环椒Q為Respondent（答辯人）。
11、Acquittal——罪名不成立
to be found not guilty of a violation of law.
【注】 刑事案件經(jīng)審訊后，被告罪名不成立被釋放，稱為“The accused is acquitted”。Acquittal是名詞。
12、Adjourn——休庭
Postponement of a court session until another time or place.
【注】 法庭在聆訊途中暫時休庭30分鐘，稱為“adjourned for 30 minutes”。如要將聆訊押后再排期重審，稱為“adjourned to a date to be fixed”。
13、Adjudication——判決、（法院的）宣告
A decision or sentence imposed by a judge.
【注】 法官作出的裁決或判決。
14、Adjudicatory Hearing——裁決聽證
Juvenile court proceeding to determine whether the allegations made in a petition are true and whether the child/youth should be subject to orders of the court.
【注】 少年法庭在判定申訴書中的申辯是否真實以及少年是否應屈從于法庭的命令而進行的一項流程。
15、Adult Probation——未成年緩刑
A legal status, applied to people 16 years of age and older, who have been convicted of a crime and placed under the supervision of a probation officer for a period of time set by the court.
【注】 對16歲或更大一點的人因犯罪而給于的一種法律地位。其將在法庭確定的一段時間內(nèi)接受緩刑監(jiān)督官的監(jiān)督。
16、Affidavit——宣誓書、書面陳述
Affidavit: A written statement made under oath.
Affirmation：Declaring something to be true under the penalty of perjury by a person who will not take an oath for religious or other reasons.
【注】 以宗教儀式發(fā)誓后簽署的書面證供稱為Affidavit，而以真誠發(fā)誓所簽署的證供稱為Affirmation，兩者的格式用詞有些分別，但主要作用相同。
17、AKA——也即是，也稱為
"Also known as". Used to list aliases or another name, or another spelling of a name used by a person.
【注】 “也稱為，也即是”。通常用來列舉一個人的別名、化名或其他名字及另外的拼寫法。
18、Allegation——聲稱，辯解
Saying that something is true. The assertion, declaration or statement of a party in a case, made in a pleading.
【注】 訴訟陳詞中未經(jīng)證實的聲言，例如：The Plaintiff alleged that his loss was due to the Defendant's breach of contract，原告聲稱他的損失是被告違約所引致。Allegation是名詞。
19、Alimony——離婚贍養(yǎng)費、生活費
Money a court requires one spouse to pay the other spouse for support before and/or after the divorce is granted. If you do not ask for alimony at the final hearing, you can never get it in the future.
【注】 法院要求配偶的一方在離婚前或離婚后支付給另一方以維持生活的費用。
20、Alternate Juror——候補陪審員、預備陪審員
A juror selected as a substitute in case another juror must leave the jury panel.
【注】 陪審團成員之一必須離場時，挑選一人以代替該名陪審員進行聽審。21、A. L. R.（American Law Reports）——《美國法律報告》
In American law, the American Law Reports are a resource used by American lawyers to find a variety of sources relating to specific legal rules, doctrines, or principles. It is an important tool for legal research.
Each ALR volume contains several annotations. An annotation is an article that summarizes the evolution of a very specific legal concept in a concise and precise fashion. The article will either be preceded by the full text of an important relevant case, or in later series, contain a reference to the text of the case, which is reproduced at the end of the volume.
【注】 A. L. R.（American Law Reports，《美國法律報告》），1919年開始由律師合作出版公司出版，現(xiàn)在由西方集團出版。從1992年起開始出版第五系列（A. L. R. 5th ）。1969年以前A. L. R.的內(nèi)容一直包括涉及聯(lián)邦法律問題及州法律問題的判決，從1969年考試不再收錄聯(lián)邦法院的判決。后者收入新出版的一個系列，《美國聯(lián)邦法律報告》（American Law Reports, Federal），簡稱A. L. R. Fed.。A. L. R.和A. L. R. Fed.由“注釋”和“判例”兩部分組成。
22、Amicus curiae——法庭之友、法官的顧問（也有人將其譯為“法庭特聘顧問”）
Amicus curiae (Latin, plural amici curiae) is defined as, "A friend of the court. One not a party to a case who volunteers to offer information on a point of law or some other aspect of the case to assist the court in deciding a matter before it". The information may be a legal opinion in the form of a brief, testimony that has not been solicited by any of the parties, or a learned treatise on a matter that bears on the case.
“……a phrase that literally means "friend of the court" -- someone who is not a party to the litigation, but who believes that the court's decision may affect its interest."”William H. Rehnquist, The Supreme Court, page 89.
【注】 “法庭之友”（amicus curiae或friends of the court），根據(jù)布萊克法律詞典的解釋，是指“對法院有疑問的事實或法律上的觀點善意地提醒法院注意或向法院報告的人”。據(jù)此可以理解，所謂的“法庭之友”，通常是對特定案件的事實或法律問題具有專業(yè)特長或獨到見解的專業(yè)人士，其向法院提供的報告將有助于法庭加深對特定案件的理解從而形成公正合理的判斷。在這個意義上說，“法庭之友”對特定案件的解決是有積極意義的。
『箋』 “法庭之友”有著悠久的歷史，它肇始于羅馬法，發(fā)展于英國普通法，而后移植到美國法中得以繁榮?！胺ㄍブ选卑l(fā)展至今，也為許多大陸法系國家的法院所采用，如法國；國際仲裁機構(gòu)也有一定程度的采用。在國外學者的相關論著中，提及“法庭之友”時，亦會用“Amicus”的縮寫；相應地，“法庭之友陳述”也有“Amicus Curiae Briefs”和“Amicus Briefs”兩種表達方式。
23、Anno Domini/A.D.——耶穌紀元……年、公元……年
Anno Domini (Latin : "In the year of (Our) Lord"), abbreviated as AD or A.D., defines an epoch based on the traditionally reckoned year of the conception or birth of Jesus of Nazareth. AD is also an abbreviation for Christian Era. Similarly, Before Christ (from the Ancient Greek "Christos" or "Anointed One", referring to Jesus), abbreviated as BC or B.C., is used in the English language to denote years before the start of this epoch. Some prefer the alternatives 'CE' and 'BCE', arguing that they are more neutral terms
【注】 Anno Domini（耶穌紀元……年、公元……年），西拉丁語，意為“我們在主的時代”，一般縮寫為A.D.，公元的時間計算起於耶穌基督出生之日。
24、Anno Regni/ A. R.——在……統(tǒng)治時代、在……朝代
'in the year of (his/her) reign'.
【注】 Anno Regni（在……統(tǒng)治時代、在……朝代），一般縮寫為A. R.。如A.R.V.R.22（Anno Regni Victoriae Reginae vicesimo secundo）指在維多利亞女王統(tǒng)治的第22年。
25、Annulment——無效婚姻判決書、撤消婚姻
A court order declaring that a marriage is invalid.
Annulment is a legal procedure for declaring a marriage null and void. Annulment differs from divorce where the court ends an otherwise legal marriage on a specific date.
In strict legal terminology, annulment refers only to making a voidable marriage null; if the marriage is void ab initio, then it is automatically null, although a legal declaration of nullity is required to establish this. The process of obtaining such a declaration is similar to the annulment process.
【注】 一份法院宣告其婚姻無效的判決書。撤消婚姻是宣布婚姻無效的一道法律程序。撤消婚姻不同于離婚。嚴格說來，無效婚姻指的是可推翻的婚姻。
『箋』 annulment是annul的名詞形式，意思是“廢除、取消（法律等）”，尤其指取消法院對不合法婚姻所作的不生效的宣告。
26、Appellant——上訴人
The party appealing a decision or judgment to a higher court.
【注】 它指的是就某一決定或判決而向高級法院申訴的當事人。
27、Arbitration:——仲裁
Submitting a case or dispute to designated parties for a decision, instead of using a judge.
【注】 仲裁（arbitration）又稱公斷，是指各方當事人自愿地將他們之間發(fā)生的爭議交給各方所同意的第三者進行審理和裁決，該裁決對各方當事人均具有約束力，能最終解決爭議。
28、Arguendo——法律中的前提假定
“for purposes of argument”, as in "assuming 'arguendo' that my opponent's contentions are correct." [In Latin, in this context, "arguendo" would mean "for the sake of arguing concerning another thing."
The term is most often used in the following logical context:
●P1 argues "X is a result of Y"
●P2 responds "While you may or may not be correct that X is a result of Y, assuming 'arguendo,' that you are correct, you still fail to account for the existence of Z, which makes null your contention."
【注】 “法律中的前提假定”通常用于“為了討論另外有關的事情”。
29、Arraignment——傳訊、提審
The first court appearance of a person accused of a crime. The person is advised of his or her rights by a judge and may respond to the criminal charges by entering a plea. Usually happens the morning after a person is arrested.
【注】 當大陪審團起訴書或檢察官起訴書提交法院后，法院應根據(jù)迅速及時的原則，對該案安排傳訊。傳訊應當在公開法庭進行，被告人必須到庭。法官首先問明被告人個人情況，然后向被告人宣讀起訴書，說明指控性質(zhì)，告知被告人享有的訴訟權(quán)利，接著要求被告人對指控作出答辯。
『箋』 一般說來，美國的刑事訴訟程序可以分為三個階段，即審前程序，審理程序，和審后程序。
審判前程序（Procedure Prior to Trial）基本包括以下幾個步驟，即：提出控告（Complaint）；逮捕（Arrest）；在警察局“登記” （Booking）；逮捕后在治安法官前聆訊（Appearance before Magistrate after Arrest）；預審（Preliminary Examination，有時又稱預先聽證—preliminary hearing或?qū)彶樾詫徟小猠xamining trial）；正式起訴（Filing of Accusation or Pleadings）；傳訊（Arraignment）；被告人答辯（Plea by Defendant）。
審理程序（Procedure during Trial）包括：選定陪審團（Selection of Jurors）、開場陳述（Opening Statements）、起訴方舉證（Presentation of Government’s Case）、辯護方舉證（Presentation of Defendant’s Case）、終結(jié)辯論（Closing Arguments）、指示陪審團（Instructing the Jury）、陪審團評議（Jury Deliberations）、陪審裁決（Conviction or Acquittal）。
審后程序（Procedure after Trial）相對簡單，其包括：課刑（Sentencing）、上訴（Appeal）等。
30、Arrearages——拖欠的贍養(yǎng)費/撫養(yǎng)費
Money for alimony and/or child support, which is overdue and unpaid.
【注】 拖欠的離婚贍養(yǎng)費和（或）子女撫養(yǎng)費。
31、As is——現(xiàn)狀
As is (or as-is) is a legal term and concept used to disclaim liability for an item being sold. "As-is" denotes that the seller is selling, and the buyer is buying an item in whatever condition it presently exists, and that the seller is accepting the item “with all faults”（不保證商品沒有瑕疵）.
A seller of a used automobile, for example, sells his car to a buyer, and puts into the contract of sale, the statement: "The buyer accepts the automobile AS-IS, WITH ALL FAULTS". Two minutes after the buyer drives off with his shiny '87 Honda Accord, the engine seizes, and the car stalls. Unless the buyer can show that there was some fraud involved in the sale, he is stuck with the car without any recourse to return the car (now presumably being hooked up to a tow truck) to the seller, and gets his money back.
【注】 “As is”常用于物業(yè)買賣的合約中，指物業(yè)的現(xiàn)狀?！癟he property is and will be sold on an ”as is“ basis …”即物業(yè)將會以其現(xiàn)狀出售。
32、Assault——毆打、侵犯
At common law, an intentional act by one person that creates an apprehension in another of an imminent harmful or offensive contact.
An assault is carried out by a threat of bodily harm coupled with an apparent, present ability to cause the harm. It is both a crime and a tort and, therefore, may result in either criminal or civil liability. Generally, the common law definition is the same in criminal and tort law. There is, however, an additional criminal law category of assault consisting of an attempted but unsuccessful battery.
Law.：①Sexual assault；②The crime of rape.
【注】 以武力侵犯他人的行為，稱為Assault。一般性質(zhì)的毆打，稱為“Common Assault”；嚴重者稱為Aggravated Assault；未經(jīng)許可觸摸他人身體，可以被控非禮，稱為Indecent Assault。
『箋』 侵犯是通過明顯的武力而實施的故意行為，無論在刑法還是民法上都導致侵權(quán)。刑法上，它還包括試圖但未遂的侵襲。
另外，此詞還指性侵害、強奸。
33、Assistant Attorney General——首席檢察官助理
An attorney who represents a state agency in civil cases.
【注】 首席檢察官助理是代表州檢察機關的律師。
34、A. V. (Authorized Version)——欽定圣經(jīng)
An English translation of the Bible from Hebrew and Greek published in 1611 under the auspices of James I. Also called Authorized Version, King James Version.
【注】 A. V. (Authorized Version)，即詹姆斯一世欽定《圣經(jīng)》英譯本〔King James Bible〕。欽定版圣經(jīng)不僅影響了隨后的英文版圣經(jīng)，對英語文學的影響也是很大的。為了讓更多未受良好教育的普通人也能知曉「上帝的旨意」，該部圣經(jīng)一共的辭匯量只在8,000個常用的英文單詞，因此十分容易理解。 一些著名作者，如John Bunyan, John Milton, Herman Melville, John Dryden, and William Wordsworth 很明顯從這個版本的圣經(jīng)中得到啟發(fā)。一些圣經(jīng)如，英語修訂版圣經(jīng)（English Revised Version），新美國標準版圣經(jīng)(New American Standard Bible）, 修訂標準版圣經(jīng)（the Revised Standard Version）, 還有新欽定版圣經(jīng)（New King James Version)等都是這個版本的修訂版。這個版本盡管常被說成是“權(quán)威版”（Authorised Version (AV)）或者“權(quán)威標準版”（Authorised Standard Version (ASV)）。 它本身從來沒有被英國政府或者英國教會正是這樣承認過。
35、Bail——保釋、保釋金
Also called Bond. Money or property given to the court for the temporary release of a defendant, to ensure that the defendant will return to court.
【注】 刑事案中的嫌疑犯或被告，可以暫時被釋放。保釋可以是有條件的，也可以是無條件的。保釋的條件包括繳交指定金額的保釋金、提供人事?lián)＜岸〞r向警署報到等。
『箋』 根據(jù)《朗文法律詞典》的介紹，保釋是指“在被逮捕的人提供擔?；蛘呓邮芴囟l件的情況下將其釋放的制度”。保釋制度發(fā)源于英國，大約形成于12－13世紀。波洛克和梅特蘭認為保釋制度直接產(chǎn)生于實際需要，而不是對抽象自由的熱愛。英國《1976年保釋法》第一條規(guī)定：（1）在某人被指控或被宣告有罪的程序中或者相關的程序中，可準予保釋。（2）因為某一罪行被逮捕或正在被簽發(fā)逮捕證的犯罪人可準予保釋。法律傾向于給予任何被監(jiān)控者保釋，準予保釋是常態(tài)，而不準保釋反而有著十分嚴格的規(guī)定。
英美國家要求對于被逮捕的犯罪嫌疑人應盡快由法官或警察決定將其保釋還是羈押，一般來說，保釋的程序分為申請、聽審、裁定以及救濟四個階段。
『箋』 在英美法系，保釋制度已較為發(fā)達，立法趨于完善，司法實踐經(jīng)驗也較為豐富。而我國的取保候?qū)徶贫扰c之在某些做法上相似，但有本質(zhì)的不同，且實際適用比例并不高，作用有限。毋庸諱言，在我國，犯罪嫌疑人、被告人的羈押率是很高的。高羈押率、長期羈押乃至超期羈押的危害極大。對于重罪嫌疑人來說，由于久押不決，給他們精神上造成巨大的痛苦；對于輕罪嫌疑人來說，則有可能其未決羈押期限超過了實際判處的刑期，從而給司法機關帶來極大的尷尬與被動；對于未構(gòu)成犯罪或者依法不應判罪的嫌疑人來說，則侵權(quán)性質(zhì)更為嚴重，造成的損失往往無法補救。
36、Balance of probabilities——可能性較高者、平衡可能性
Also known as "preponderance of the evidence", this is the standard required in most civil cases. The standard is met if the proposition is more likely to be true than not true. Effectively, the standard is satisfied if there is greater than 50% chance that the proposition is true. Lord Denning in Miller v. Minister of Pension described it simply as "more probable than not".
【注】 這是民事案件中舉證的標準，法庭對原告和被告所提出的證據(jù)，認為那一方的可信性較高，便會判處該方勝訴。相對刑事案而言，民事案中敗訴的后果一般都只是經(jīng)濟利益，所以法庭對舉證的要求，相對也較刑事案為低。
37、bench warrant——法院拘票
Court papers issued by the judge, "from the bench," for the arrest of a person.
A bench warrant is used for attachment or arrest in a case of contempt, which is the willful disregard or disobedience of an authority such as the court. A bench warrant is also issued when an indictment, which is a written accusation of a person's guilt for an act or omission, is handed down. A third instance where a bench warrant is issued is to obtain a witness who disobeys a subpoena, which is a command to appear at a specified time and place to present testimony upon a certain matter.
【注】 法官簽發(fā)的逮捕令。
法官簽發(fā)拘票的情況有：當事人故意漠視、對抗法庭的命令拒不到庭時；當事人因罪被恐時；當不服從傳票在法庭上作證時。
38、Beyond reasonable doubt——無合理疑點
The standard that must be met by the prosecution's evidence in a criminal prosecution: that no other logical explanation can be derived from the facts except that the defendant committed the crime, thereby overcoming the presumption that a person is innocent until proven guilty.
Beyond a reasonable doubt is the highest standard of proof that must be met in any trial.
【注】 這是刑事案件中舉證的標準，控方向法庭提出的證據(jù)，必須是在合理的情況下并無疑點，法庭才會判處被告有罪。刑事罪的后果對被告而言，較為嚴重，舉證標準的要求也因此而較民事案嚴格，如果法庭認為證據(jù)有任何疑點，都會將疑點的利益“benefit of doubt”歸于被告。
39、Binding——有約束力的
Imposing or commanding adherence to a commitment, an obligation, or a duty: binding arbitration; a binding agreement.
【注】 “binding”通常的解釋是連結(jié)一起，但法律上則多用作有約束力的，例如：This provisional agreement is a binding contract。這份臨時協(xié)議是有法律約束力的。
40、Body Corporate——法人實體、法人
A body corporate is the English legal term for a corporation. It is distinct from a natural person(自然人), although it has many of the same legal rights.
A body corporate can be either a corporation sole (consisting of a single person) or a corporation aggregate (consisting of two or more persons). The UK Crown is an example of a corporation sole, whereas J Sainsbury plc is an example of a corporation aggregate.
【注】 經(jīng)法律程序而產(chǎn)生具有與自然人相同法律地位的組織，例如：根據(jù)公司條例注冊成立的有限公司Limited Company，可以擁有資產(chǎn)，可以向外借貸，可以提出控訴，也可以被申索。法人團體沒有自然的死亡因素，所以必須經(jīng)法律程序才可以將它消除。
法人既可以是由一個人組織的機構(gòu)，也可以是兩個人以上成立的組織機構(gòu)。
『箋』 legal person、moral person、juristic person、artificial person、juridical person都譯為“法人”，與“自然人”相對。41、Bond——保釋、保釋金
Also called bail. Money or property given to the court for the temporary release of a defendant, to ensure that the defendant will return to court. There are two kinds of bonds:
●Non-financial bonds: Non-surety bond where the defendant's signature alone guarantees the amount of bond and the defendant is not required to post any property or retain the services of a professional bail bondsperson as collateral.b) Promise to appear.
●Surety bond（履約保證）: The court requires cash, real estate or a professional bail bondpersons signature as collateral before releasing the defendant back into the community. (The court may allow the defendant to post ten percent of the bond in cash to secure his or her release.)
【注】 保釋分為無條件保釋和有條件保釋兩種形式。最初的保釋是嫌疑人用保證金作擔保獲得審前釋放，接著出現(xiàn)了保證人保證的形式。而且保證金可以嫌疑人自己交，也可以由保證人交。以后保釋逐步附加其他條件，稱為有條件保釋。有條件保釋是指，如果決定保釋而不附加條件將導致危險時，可附加以下一個或多個條件：（1）有一個明確的住址。（2）每天上午到當?shù)鼐炀謭蟮?。?）宵禁，即晚上不能出門。（4）繳納保證金。至于保證金的數(shù)額，則根據(jù)嫌疑人的財產(chǎn)、涉嫌犯罪的輕重等情況來確定。（5）有防止逃跑的安全措施。（6）符合保釋支持計劃（即政府推行措施保證被保釋人出庭）等等。無條件保釋是指嫌疑人無條件獲得保釋。一般情況下，應無條件保釋，實踐中大多數(shù)為無條件保釋。如情況變化，無條件保釋可以轉(zhuǎn)化為有條件保釋。
『箋』 在英美國家，保釋制度經(jīng)過了很長的發(fā)展歷程。目前，保釋觀念已經(jīng)深入人心。保釋制度賴以產(chǎn)生和發(fā)展的兩個理論基礎是：其一，任何公民都享有人身自由權(quán)。人身自由是公民的一項基本權(quán)利，即便存在著犯罪嫌疑，仍然應當盡量保證公民作為社會生活中的一員的自由。其二，是無罪推定原則?；跓o罪推定原則，任何人在依法被判處有罪以前，都是無罪的，因此在等待法庭審理時，應享有自由的權(quán)利。
“保釋是一種權(quán)利，而不是一種特權(quán)”，它與“人生來是自由的”這一天然權(quán)利是聯(lián)系在一起的。既然是公民的權(quán)利，就不是司法機關恩賜的，而是依法享有的?；谶@樣一種司法理念，在英國，保釋的適用范圍是很廣泛。從理論上說，無論什么性質(zhì)的案件都可以適用保釋。與美國的做法不同，在英國，保釋并不僅僅因罪行的嚴重程度而被拒絕。在美國，謀殺、恐怖、有組織犯罪、國際走私犯罪均不予保釋。在英國，案件的性質(zhì)及嚴重程度并非拒絕保釋的唯一理由（當然會有一定程度的影響）。
保釋的例外即拒絕保釋有三種情形：（1）有足夠的理由相信不會按照保釋要求出庭。如以前保釋后有潛逃的記錄而沒有合理的解釋等。（2）有足夠的理由相信可能進一步犯罪。這是根據(jù)嫌疑人、被告人以前的經(jīng)歷與此次犯罪的性質(zhì)等因素來判定的。（3）有足夠的理由相信會威脅、干擾、傷害證人、妨礙司法程序正常進行。
42、Bond Review——保釋聽證
A hearing for a judge to decide if the defendant’s bond amount needs to be changed.
【注】 法官決定是否有必要調(diào)整被告保釋金金額而舉行的聽證。
43、Bondsman——保釋保證人
A surety; one who has put up cash or property as collateral before a defendant may be released.
【注】 為被告保釋而支付保釋金的人。
44、Broken Down Irretrievably——感情破裂并無法挽回、夫妻感情確已破裂
The most common reason for granting a divorce. It means there is no hope of the husband and wife getting back together again. Also known as "no-fault" divorce.
【注】 “感情破裂并已無法挽回”是準予離婚的最常見理由。它意味著配偶雙方已無法繼續(xù)共同生活。因此而離婚被稱為“無過錯”離婚。
45、Burden of Proof——舉證責任、證明責任
Obligation of proving a disputed charge or allegation. For example, Are you sure you mailed the tax return on time? The burden of proof's on you. A legal term dating from the late 1500s, it has also been used more loosely in recent times.
【注】 無論是刑事或民事案件，提出控訴的一方，都負有舉證的責任，即是向法庭提出證據(jù)，支持控訴和申索的事由。雖然在一般的情況下，向法庭舉證是主控和原告的責任，但如果被告在刑事案中被法庭判罪之后，再被受害人以民事追討賠償，則在有關的民事訴訟中，如果被告否認他對受害人的損失需要負上賠償?shù)呢熑危桓姹阌胸熑蜗蚍ㄍヅe證，支持他的抗辯。
burden of proof（舉證責任），它的一般含義是指“誰主張，誰舉證”，即是指在訴訟中，當事人必須為自己的訴訟主張?zhí)峁┳C據(jù)，如果舉不出證據(jù)或證據(jù)不能證明主張，將承擔敗訴的風險。例外規(guī)則有“舉證責任轉(zhuǎn)移或倒置”和“法庭主動或協(xié)助收集證據(jù)”，前兩者是當事人行使訴權(quán)所引出的必然規(guī)則，最后一點是法庭行使審判權(quán)的或然規(guī)則。
『箋』 在英文中，burden of proof一詞，既有提供證據(jù)的含義，也有以證據(jù)證明其事實主張的含義。因此，就burden of proof應譯成“舉證責任”，還是“證明責任”，在學者中存在爭議。
舉證責任的設置，本為促進訴訟的進行，嚴格舉證責任的時效。最早提出舉證責任概念的，當為德國刑事訴訟法學者格爾查（又譯為格拉斯，juliusglaser）。在1883年，格爾查從實體法與程序法的二元論出發(fā)，在其名著《刑事訴訟導論》一書中將舉證責任分為“實質(zhì)上的舉證責任”（materielle beweislast）與“訴訟上的舉證責任”（prozessuale beweislast）兩層含義。承接格拉查的舉證責任雙層含義說，德國人萊昂哈德（leonhard）對舉證責任分為客觀舉證責任與主觀舉證責任兩類。
在英美法系，發(fā)現(xiàn)舉證責任多義性的是美國學者賽葉（thayer），他在1890年的《證明責任論》（the burden of proof）和1898年的《證據(jù)理論研究》（a preliminary treatise on evince）兩篇論著中對舉證責任的多義性進行了分析。據(jù)賽葉的理解，人們是在三層含義上使用舉證責任這一術(shù)語：⑴當事人應對不能證明某一論題或主張而承受相應的敗訴風險。⑵當事人在訴訟中應對其事實主張承擔提出證據(jù)的責任。⑶不加區(qū)分地使用前兩種含義。
46、Capias Mittimus——拘票、收押令
A civil arrest warrant used to get a person physically into court to respond to a specific case or claim.
【注】 將人帶到法庭以應辯的一種逮捕令。
47、Capital Felony——重刑罪
A criminal offense in which the death penalty may be imposed
【注】 罪名之一種，因其犯罪行為將導致被判死刑的罪。
48、Case Conference——個案研討會
A meeting scheduled by the court to review the case.
【注】 法庭定期舉行的以討論某案件的會議。
49、Case File——個案案卷
The court file containing papers submitted in a case.
【注】 所謂個案案卷就是關于某案的有關資料的法律檔案。
50、Cause of Action——訴訟理由
The fact or combination of facts that gives a person the right to seek judicial redress or relief against another. Also, the legal theory forming the basis of a lawsuit.
The cause of action is the heart of the complaint, which is the pleading that initiates a lawsuit. Without an adequately stated cause of action the plaintiff's case can be dismissed at the outset.
The cause of action is often stated in the form of a syllogism（三段論）, a form of deductive reasoning that begins with a major premise (the applicable rule of law), proceeds to a minor premise (the facts that gave rise to the claim), and ends with a conclusion. In a cause of action for battery, the rule of law is that any intentional, unpermitted act that causes a harmful or offensive touching of another is a battery.
【注】 提出訴訟，必須要有合理的事實根據(jù)，缺乏合理的訴訟理由，對方不但可以向法庭請求剔除有關的訴訟，同時可以要求賠償浪費了的律師費及其它費用。
訴訟理由是申訴的核心所在。如果沒有足夠的訴訟理由，原告的案子在一開始就會被法院拒斥。
訴訟理由通常采取三段論形式來表達：即以一個大前提的推論開始（可使用的法規(guī)條例），接著是一個小前提（引發(fā)申訴的事實），最后是一個結(jié)論。
51、Caution——警誡詞
a warning against certain acts
【注】 執(zhí)法人員（警察及海關人員等）在拘捕疑犯時，提醒疑犯保持緘默的權(quán)利的警告說話。執(zhí)法人員在沒有給予疑犯警誡詞的情況下所錄取的供詞，可能不會被法庭接納為有效的證供。
52、Certified Copy——核證副本、正式核準的副本
A photocopy of a document, judgment, or record that is signed and attested to as an accurate and a complete reproduction of the original document by a public official in whose custody the original has been placed for safekeeping.
A certified copy is admissible as evidence in a lawsuit when the original document cannot be produced because it has been lost or destroyed. This rule, which considers a certified copy to be secondary evidence unless circumstances of loss or destruction warrant its treatment as primary evidence, is known as the best evidence rule.
【注】 核證副本通常都有核證人的簽署和核證日期，以確認對該副本進行了核證，除特別聲明必須用文件正本的情況外，核證副本一般都視為有效的文件。
在訴訟中，如果原件已遺失或損毀，核準副本可以作為證據(jù)而被接受。
53、Certiorari——調(diào)卷令、訴訟文件移送命令
[Latin, To be informed of.] At common law, an original writ or order issued by the Chancery or King's Bench, commanding officers of inferior courts to submit the record of a cause pending before them to give the party more certain and speedy justice.
【注】 在下級法院的判決受到異議時，上級法院向下級法院發(fā)出令狀或命令，要求它呈上案件記錄，以便審查它所作的判決。
在1891年前，只要上訴案件來自于聯(lián)邦法院系統(tǒng)，或者是關系到聯(lián)邦問題、或者是從州最高法院上訴的，最高法院都有正式義務受理這些上訴案件。以至于1890年，最高法院竟然處理了18000多個案件。1925年《司法法》（Judiciary Act of 1925）極大地抑制了糾錯令的使用，通過進一步確定調(diào)卷令，在更多種類的案件中授予聯(lián)邦最高法院以更大的裁量權(quán)。只有當最高法院9名大法官中至少有4名大法官同意審查某一案件時才簽發(fā)調(diào)卷令。
調(diào)卷令的案件中往往涉及不同法院對聯(lián)邦法律的不同解釋，例如，兩個聯(lián)邦上訴法院對某一法律的解釋有沖突；聯(lián)邦上訴法院和州最高法院對某一法律的解釋有沖突；或者聯(lián)邦上訴法院對某一法律的解釋與聯(lián)邦最高法院以前的判決有不一致之處等。
54、Chamber——辦公室
A room in which a judge may consult privately with attorneys or hear cases not taken into court.
Chiefly British. A suite of rooms, especially one used by lawyers.
【注】 訴訟律師和法官的辦公室，稱為“Chamber”。訴訟程序中有部份的聆訊是在法官的辦公室中進行的，稱為內(nèi)庭聆訊“hearing in chambers”，內(nèi)庭聆訊只準許當事人及其法律代表出席。
55、change of venue——管轄權(quán)變化、審理法院變更
In law, the word venue designates the location where a trial will be held. It derives from the Latin word for "a place where people gather."
A change of venue is the legal term for moving a trial to a new location. In high-profile matters, a change of venue may occur to move a jury trial away from a location where a fair and impartial jury may not be possible due to widespread publicity about a crime and/or defendant(s) to another community in order to obtain jurors who can be more objective in their duties. This change may be a few towns away, or across the state.
This is done when there is a reason to think that a defendant will not receive a fair trial, for whatever the reason.
【注】 審理法院變更是指將一個案件的審訊移到另外一個新的管轄地法院進行審理。這種變化既可在一州之內(nèi)進行，也可跨州進行。當被告沒有受到公平審判十，無論什么理由都必須進行審理法院變更。
56、Charge——收費，控罪，抵押，押記
To impose a burden, duty, obligation, or lien; to create a claim against property; to assess; to demand; to accuse; to instruct a jury on matters of law.
【注】 Charge可以是名詞，也可以是動詞，它包含了多個不同的解釋：① 是提供服務的收費，例：Legal Charge（律師收費）；②是刑事控罪，例：This case has more than one charge（這案件包含多于一項的控罪）；③是借貸的抵押，例：The company charged its property for the loan（這間公司以其物業(yè)作為借款的抵押）；④是對法定債務人的物業(yè)的押記，用以償還有關的法定債務。
57、Chattels——動產(chǎn)
All property except real property; personal property. For example: jewelry, clothing, furniture, and appliances.
A chattel is treated as personal property rather than real property regardless of whether it is movable or immovable.
【注】 動產(chǎn)，指的是除了不動產(chǎn)以外的財產(chǎn)。它是“不動產(chǎn)”相對應的一個概念。
58、“Chip Smith Charge”——奇普·史密斯指控判例
The "Chip Smith charge" is an instruction to deadlocked jurors, urging those jurors whose disagree with the majority vote to reexamine the majority views in an effort to reach a unanimous verdict.
"Everything old is new again." We've all heard this phrase before, and this is certainly the case with the Chip Smith charge. The charge derives from State v. Smith, 49 Conn. 376 (1881). James "Chip" Smith was a 21-year-old who was drinking, firing off his gun and causing a general disturbance of the peace one afternoon in December of 1880. His behavior forced his father out into the street and to the home of Daniel J. Hayes, the chief of police for the borough of Ansonia. The elder Mr. Smith begged Mr. Hayes to come and arrest his son. Mr. Hayes went in search of Chip, found him in a downtown street and tried to arrest him. A struggle ensued, and Chip shot Hayes in the abdomen. Hayes later died of his injuries. James "Chip" Smith was tried for and convicted of Hayes' murder. In an opinion reviewing Smith's conviction, the Connecticut Supreme Court set forth language concerning the duty of jurors when deliberating. This language became known as the Chip Smith charge, and trial courts repeatedly gave the charge to jurors when they reported that they were deadlocked.
Over the years, the Chip Smith charge became an established part of Connecticut jurisprudence. However, the instruction was often challenged as being coercive and implying that a juror in the minority should "give in" to the majority for the sake of unanimity. Recently, in State v. O'Neil, 261 Conn. 49 (2002), the instruction was challenged once again, and our old Chip Smith charge was given a new dressing.
【注】 奇普·史密斯指控判例，是指對處于審理僵局的陪審團進行指導以促使這些意見不一的陪審員在再次投票時以獲得一致性的裁決結(jié)論。
『箋』 該指控來自1881年康涅狄格州的“州訴史密斯”一案。21歲的詹姆士·奇普·史密斯酒后開槍影響了街區(qū)的平靜，當該鎮(zhèn)的公安局長丹尼爾·J·賀耶斯試圖逮捕史密斯時，史密斯開槍射中了賀耶斯的腹部以致其身亡。當康涅狄格州高級法院審理此案時，陪審團成員之間分歧很大，后來反復審理最終取得一致性結(jié)論。“奇普·史密斯指控”已經(jīng)康涅狄格州司法的一部分。該案提供的指示經(jīng)常迫使陪審團的少數(shù)派成員讓步以達成全體一致。
59、Citation——引證
Law. A reference to previous court decisions or authoritative writings.
【注】 所謂Citation（引證）是指援引一個司法先例或者法律依據(jù)，借以支持或削弱某一觀點。
對于如何引證各種法律依據(jù)，美國有一套廣為接受的引證體系，俗稱“藍皮書”（），其全稱是《統(tǒng)一引證體系》（A Uniform System of Citation），由《哈佛法律評論》協(xié)會（Harvard Law Review Association）出版。它對于各種類型的法律引證制定了詳細的規(guī)則、格式和縮寫。（Peter W. Martin, Introduction to Basic Legal Citation, see http://www.law.cornell.edu/citation/index.htm）
而英國沒有這樣統(tǒng)一的規(guī)則體系，不過在實踐中形成了一套被大家普遍接受的引證方式。其中牛津大學指定的一套名為《牛津法律依據(jù)標準引證》（The Oxford Standard Citation of Legal Authorities）的法律引證體系在司法實踐中具有較大的影響。
60、Civil Action——民事訴訟
A lawsuit other than a criminal case usually filed in a Judicial District courthouse. Includes family actions (divorces, child support, etc) and small claims cases, although these are both separately designated.
A lawsuit brought to enforce, redress, or protect rights of private litigants—the plaintiffs and the defendants— not a criminal proceeding.
Today, courts in the United States generally are not divided into common-law courts and equity courts because most states and the federal government have merged the procedures for law and equity into one system. Now all kinds of lawsuits are simply called civil actions without the former distinctions of procedure in law or in equity.
A criminal proceeding is called a penal action to distinguish it from civil actions.
【注】 民事訴訟是指不同于刑事訴訟的一種訴訟以執(zhí)行、救濟、保護訴訟人的權(quán)利。
美國的法院通常被分為普通法院和衡平法院，因為許多州和聯(lián)邦政府已經(jīng)將普通法和衡平法的訴訟程序并入同一系統(tǒng)。
