Legal Terminology and Dust Bowl Historical Context
Key Roles in a Courtroom Trial
1. The Judge
Judges keep trials fair, stay neutral, handle objections, and decide punishments. UK judges still wear wigs.
2. The Witness
Witnesses speak in the witness box and must tell the truth. Lying under oath is a serious crime called perjury. In the US, defendants can refuse to testify.
3. The Prosecution
The prosecution tries to prove the accused is guilty. In criminal cases, the state brings charges for serious crimes. In civil cases, a plaintiff sues for compensation. No one goes to jail in civil cases.
4. The Defendant
A defendant is innocent until proven guilty. Mitigating circumstances can reduce the punishment or suspend prison time.
5. The Jury
The jury listens to the case and decides if the accused is guilty. All 12 must agree. If not, it is a hung jury. Many US cases end in a plea bargain instead of a trial.
6. Defense Lawyers
Defense lawyers help the defendant. Solicitors give legal advice, while barristers speak in court. They can appeal if the trial was unfair. In the US, lawyers are called attorneys.
Legal Definitions and Courtroom Vocabulary
The Judge
- Impartial: Not supporting any of the sides involved in an argument; neutral.
- To raise an objection: To express disapproval of something said or done in court.
- A conviction: An official decision in a law court stating someone is guilty of a crime.
- A fine: An amount of money paid as punishment for breaking the law.
- Capital punishment / The death penalty: Execution as ordered by a legal system.
The Witness
- To testify: To tell the court what you have seen during a crime.
The Prosecution
- Compensation: Money paid to someone in exchange for loss or damage.
- To acquit: To decide officially in court that someone is not guilty.
The Defendant
- Mitigating circumstances / Extenuating circumstances: Elements causing a crime to be judged less serious or a punishment less severe.
- A suspended jail term: A prison sentence that is not carried out if no further crimes are committed within a specific period.
The Jury
- Evidence: Elements that indicate whether something is true or not.
- To deliberate: To think carefully about something.
- A plea bargain: An agreement to admit guilt to a lesser crime to avoid a more serious trial.
- To plead guilty: To state officially that you are guilty of the charges.
- To charge: To state formally that someone is accused of a crime.
The Counsel for the Defense
- To appeal: To request a higher court to reconsider a decision.
- The verdict: A decision at the end of a trial.
Common Crimes and Legal Terms
- Arson: Setting fire to a building.
- Burglary: Breaking into a building.
- Petty theft: Stealing something of little value.
- Murder: Deliberately causing someone’s death.
- Manslaughter: Killing a person unintentionally.
- Corruption: Dishonest behavior by people in power.
- Bribery: Offering money to persuade a person to do what you want.
- Slander: Spoken statements that damage a reputation (as opposed to libel, which is written).
- Parole: Permission for a prisoner to be released early for good behavior.
- Bail: Money paid to a court so an accused person can be released until their trial.
The Dust Bowl: History and Causes
In the Dust Bowl (1930s), farmers lost crops due to drought and dust storms during the Great Depression, and many became poor or moved away.
Causes of the Dust Bowl
People plowed too much land and removed grass. When drought came, wind blew away the dry soil, causing dust storms.
Historical Timeline
- Plains Indians lived there and hunted bison; the land was not farmed.
- Native Americans were moved away; bison were killed.
- Cattle ranchers used the land (Beef Bonanza).
- Homesteaders tried farming, but many failed because of drought.
- Early 1900s: European immigrants started farming.
- WWI: High demand for wheat led to more farming.
- 1920s: Machines and good rain led to successful farming.
- 1930s: Great Depression hit and wheat prices dropped.
English-Dutch Legal Glossary
- An accused / A defendant: Een beschuldigde
- The defense: De verdediging
- A judge: Een rechter
- A jury / A member / A juror: Een jury / een jurylid
- A lawyer / An attorney / A barrister: Een advocaat
- A plaintiff: Een aanklager, een eiser
- The prosecution / The prosecutor: Het openbaar ministerie / de openbare aanklager
- A victim: Een slachtoffer
- A witness: Een getuige
- A criminal case / A civil case: Een strafzaak / een burgerlijke zaak
- To charge with / To bring charges against: Aanklagen voor (een misdaad)
- To release on bail: Vrijlaten op borgtocht
- To plead not guilty / A plea bargain: Onschuldig pleiten / schuld bekennen in ruil voor strafvermindering
- To try for a crime / To put on trial for: Voor een rechter brengen
- To present evidence: Bewijsmateriaal voorleggen
- To object to / To raise an objection: Verzet aantekenen
- To testify / The testimony: Getuigen / de getuigenis
- To deliberate: Delibereren, overleggen
- To reach a unanimous decision: Een unanieme beslissing treffen
- To acquit of a crime / An acquittal: Vrijspreken / een vrijspraak
- To convict of a crime / A conviction: Veroordelen / een veroordeling
- To deliver a verdict: Een oordeel vellen
- To sentence (to) / The maximum sentence: Vonnissen, veroordelen (tot) / de maximumstraf
- To release on parole: Voorwaardelijk vrijlaten
- To appeal / To overturn a verdict: In beroep gaan tegen / een vonnis tenietdoen
- Arson: Brandstichting
- Assault: Geweldpleging
- Bribery: Omkoperij
- Burglary: Inbraak
- Corruption: Corruptie
- Libel: Smaad, schriftelijke belediging
- Slander: Laster, kwaadsprekerij
- Manslaughter: Doodslag
- Murder in the first degree / Homicide: Moord met voorbedachte rade
- (Petty) theft: Diefstal (van kleine zaken)
- Perjury: Meineed
- Driving under the influence (DUI): Rijden onder invloed
- Embezzlement: Geld verduisteren
- Money laundering: Geld witwassen
- Sexual harassment: Ongewenste intimiteiten
- Rape: Verkrachting
- Trespassing: Op verboden terrein komen
- Compensation: Een schadevergoeding
- Imprisonment / To go to jail: Een gevangenisstraf / naar de gevangenis gaan
- A suspended jail term: Een gevangenisstraf met uitstel / voorwaardelijke gevangenisstraf
- A fine: Een boete
- Capital punishment / The death penalty: De doodstraf
- Lethal injection / The electric chair: Een dodelijke injectie / de elektrische stoel
- Community service: Een taakstraf
- Leniency: Mildheid
- A motive: Een motief
- Mitigating circumstance(s) / Extenuating circumstance(s): Verzachtende omstandigheden
- An alibi: Een alibi
- The scene of a crime: De plaats van de misdaad
- To be impartial / Impartiality: Onpartijdig zijn / onpartijdigheid
General Legal and Academic Vocabulary
- Administration
- Compensation
- To consent
- Constitution
- Consultation
- Context
- A contract
- To deny
- Discretion
- Enforcement
- An entity
- Evidence
- Foundation
- To incorporate
- Inspection
- Intervention
- To invoke
- Legislation
- To maintain
- To obtain
- Presumption
- Procedure
- To process
- To prohibit
- To release
- Relevant
- To suspend
- To trigger
- A violation
- Contrary
- Conversely
- Furthermore
- Inevitably
- Likewise
- Thereby
- Whereas
- Whereby
- Hence