Legal Terms

case

A term that most often refers to a lawsuit -- for example, "I filed my small claims case." "Case" also refers to a written decision by a judge -- or for an appellate case, a panel of judges. For example, the U.S. Supreme Court's decision legalizing abortion is commonly referred to as the Roe v. Wade case. Finally, the term also describes the evidence a party submits in support of her position -- for example, "I have made my case" or "'My case-in-chief' has been completed."