Terms Used In Delaware Code > Title 10 > Chapter 1 - Supreme Court

• ACIM: means "A Child is Missing Alert Program" a national rapid-response communication network that offers free assistance to law-enforcement agencies to aid in the recovery, identity, or apprehension of missing persons through the use of immediate public notification and dissemination of information via telephone in a targeted community. See Delaware Code Title 11 Sec. 8580A
• Acquittal:
  1. Judgement that a criminal defendant has not been proved guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
  2. A verdict of "not guilty."
   
• Affidavit: A written statement of facts confirmed by the oath of the party making it, before a notary or officer having authority to administer oaths.
• Alcohol: means ethyl alcohol produced by the distillation of any fermented liquid, whether rectified or diluted with water or not, whatever may be the origin thereof, and includes synthetic ethyl alcohol, but it does not mean ethyl alcohol, diluted or not, that has been denatured or otherwise rendered unfit for beverage purposes. See Delaware Code Title 4 Sec. 101
• alcoholic liquors: include the 5 varieties of liquor defined in this section (alcohol, spirits, wine, beer and alcoholic cider) as well as every liquid or solid, patented or not, containing alcohol, spirits, wine, beer or alcoholic cider and capable of being consumed by a human being, and any liquid or solid containing more than 1 of the 5 varieties defined in this section is considered as belonging to that variety which usually has the higher percentage of alcohol. See Delaware Code Title 4 Sec. 101
• Amendment: A proposal to alter the text of a pending bill or other measure by striking out some of it, by inserting new language, or both. Before an amendment becomes part of the measure, thelegislature must agree to it.
• Answer: The formal written statement by a defendant responding to a civil complaint and setting forth the grounds for defense.
• Appeal: A request made after a trial, asking another court (usually the court of appeals) to decide whether the trial was conducted properly. To make such a request is "to appeal" or "to take an appeal." One who appeals is called the appellant.
• Appellate: About appeals; an appellate court has the power to review the judgement of another lower court or tribunal.
• Appropriation: The provision of funds, through an annual appropriations act or a permanent law, for federal agencies to make payments out of the Treasury for specified purposes. The formal federal spending process consists of two sequential steps: authorization
• Arrest: Taking physical custody of a person by lawful authority.
• Attorney-at-law: A person who is legally qualified and licensed to practice law, and to represent and act for clients in legal proceedings.
• Beer: means any beverage containing more than 1/2 of 1% of ethyl alcohol by volume, obtained by the alcoholic fermentation of any infusion or decoction of barley malt and hops in water and includes, among other things, ale, porter, stout and other malt or brewed liquors. See Delaware Code Title 4 Sec. 101
• Bottle: means any vessel that is corked, capped or stopped or arranged so to be and intended to contain or to convey liquids. See Delaware Code Title 4 Sec. 101
• Cabaret: means an establishment where patrons are entertained by performers who dance, sing, play instruments or perform other legal acts for entertainment, but not to include a dinner theater, and where such entertainment may be performed during or after service or dinner, and where a minor, as defined in § 708 of this title, is to be denied admission to or permission to remain on premises after 9:00 p. See Delaware Code Title 4 Sec. 101
• Caterer: means any proprietorship, partnership or corporation engaged in the business of providing food and beverages at social gatherings such as weddings, dinners, benefits, banquets or other similar events for consideration on a regular basis and duly licensed by the State as caterers with at least 60% of its gross receipts resulting from the sale of food. See Delaware Code Title 4 Sec. 101
• Child: means a person who has not reached the age of 18 years. See Delaware Code Title 1 Sec. 302
• Club: means a corporation or association created by competent authority, which is the owner, lessee or occupant of premises operated solely for objects of national, social, patriotic, political or athletic nature, or the like, whether or not for pecuniary gain, and the property as well as the advantages of which belong to or are enjoyed by the stockholders or by the members of such corporation or association. See Delaware Code Title 4 Sec. 101
• Commission: means the Delaware Harness Racing Commission. See Delaware Code Title 3 Sec. 10001
• Commissioner: means the person appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate who serves as the Alcoholic Beverage Control Commissioner for the State. See Delaware Code Title 4 Sec. 101
• Concert hall: shall mean an indoor facility used to host live entertainment that is owned, leased, under easement, and/or operated by any person and that has capacity for at least 600 patrons for any single event. See Delaware Code Title 4 Sec. 101
• Conviction: A judgement of guilt against a criminal defendant.
• Court: means the Superior Court, Family Court, Court of Common Pleas and the Justice of the Peace Court. See Delaware Code Title 11 Sec. 9401
• Crime: means an act or omission committed by a person, whether or not competent or an adult, which, if committed by a competent adult, is punishable by incarceration and which violates 1 or more of the following sections of this title:

  OFFENSES AGAINST THE PERSON

  601. See Delaware Code Title 11 Sec. 9401

• Damages: Money paid by defendants to successful plaintiffs in civil cases to compensate the plaintiffs for their injuries.
• Defendant: In a civil suit, the person complained against; in a criminal case, the person accused of the crime.
• Discovery: Lawyers' examination, before trial, of facts and documents in possession of the opponents to help the lawyers prepare for trial.
• Division: means "Division of Alcohol and Tobacco Enforcement. See Delaware Code Title 4 Sec. 101
• Docket: A log containing brief entries of court proceedings.
• dollars: means lawful money of the United States. See Delaware Code Title 1 Sec. 302
• Establishment: means any place located physically in this State where alcoholic liquor of 1 or more varieties is stored, sold or used by authority of any law of this State, including a hotel, restaurant, tavern, beer garden, or club as defined in this section, or where alcoholic liquor of 1 or more varieties is manufactured by virtue of any law of this State. See Delaware Code Title 4 Sec. 101
• Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
• Fiscal year: The fiscal year is the accounting period for the government. For the federal government, this begins on October 1 and ends on September 30. The fiscal year is designated by the calendar year in which it ends; for example, fiscal year 2006 begins on October 1, 2005 and ends on September 30, 2006.
• Forgery: The fraudulent signing or alteration of another's name to an instrument such as a deed, mortgage, or check. The intent of the forgery is to deceive or defraud. ^{Source: OCC}
• gathering: means a banquet, picnic, bazaar, fair or similar private gathering or similar public gathering where food or drink are sold, served or dispensed by nonprofit organizations such as churches, colleges and universities, volunteer fire companies, political parties or other similar nonprofit groups having a common civic, social, educational or religious purpose, or where entrance tickets are sold or entrance fees are required by those nonprofit organizations. See Delaware Code Title 4 Sec. 101
• Gold Alert Program: means as defined in § 8580 of this title. See Delaware Code Title 11 Sec. 8580A
• Grand jury: agreement providing that a lender will delay exercising its rights (in the case of a mortgage,
• Green Alert: means the procedures used to aid in the identification of a missing member of the armed forces. See Delaware Code Title 11 Sec. 8580A
• Guardian: A person legally empowered and charged with the duty of taking care of and managing the property of another person who because of age, intellect, or health, is incapable of managing his (her) own affairs.
• harness horse races: means and includes only any racing of horses in which the horses competing or participating are harnessed to a sulky, carriage or similar vehicle and are not mounted by a jockey. See Delaware Code Title 3 Sec. 10001
• Hotel: means any establishment, provided with special space and accommodation, where, in consideration of payment, food and lodging are habitually furnished to travelers. See Delaware Code Title 4 Sec. 101
• Import: means the transporting or ordering or arranging for the transportation or shipment of alcoholic liquor into the State whether by a resident of the State or otherwise. See Delaware Code Title 4 Sec. 101
• Importer: means the person transporting or ordering, authorizing or arranging the transportation or shipment of alcoholic liquors into this State, whether the person is a resident or citizen of this State or not, said person being permitted to sell said alcoholic liquors only to those persons licensed to resell alcoholic liquors; provided, however, that nothing contained in this definition shall be construed as prohibiting an importer from selling such alcoholic liquors to either an active owner of that business for that person's use and not for resale or to a full-time, bona fide employee of that business for that person's use and not for resale; and provided further, that nothing contained in this definition shall be construed as prohibiting an importer from selling beer in "half-barrel" or "quarter-barrel" containers to the holders of a personal license. See Delaware Code Title 4 Sec. 101
• Indictment: The formal charge issued by a grand jury stating that there is enough evidence that the defendant committed the crime to justify having a trial; it is used primarily for felonies.
• Infant: means a person who has not reached the age of 18 years. See Delaware Code Title 1 Sec. 302
• Investigating law-enforcement agency: means the law-enforcement agency which has primary jurisdiction in the area in which a missing person complaint has been filed. See Delaware Code Title 11 Sec. 8580
• Investigating law-enforcement agency: means the law-enforcement agency that has primary jurisdiction in the area in which a complaint regarding a missing member of the armed forces is filed. See Delaware Code Title 11 Sec. 8580A
• Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
• Juror: A person who is on the jury.
• Lease: A contract transferring the use of property or occupancy of land, space, structures, or equipment in consideration of a payment (e.g., rent). ^{Source: OCC}
• License: means any license or permit to manufacture, to sell, to purchase, to transport, to import or to possess alcoholic liquor authorized or issued by the Commissioner under the provisions of Chapter 5 of this title. See Delaware Code Title 4 Sec. 101
• Lien: A claim against real or personal property in satisfaction of a debt.
• Litigation: A case, controversy, or lawsuit. Participants (plaintiffs and defendants) in lawsuits are called litigants.
• Manufacture: means distill, rectify, ferment, brew, make, mix, concoct or process any substance or substances capable of producing a beverage containing more than 1/2 of 1% of alcohol by volume and includes blending, bottling or other preparation for sale. See Delaware Code Title 4 Sec. 101
• Manufacturer: means any person engaged in the manufacture of any alcoholic liquor and among others includes a distiller, a rectifier, a wine maker, a brewer, and includes a bottler or one who prepares alcoholic liquor for sale. See Delaware Code Title 4 Sec. 101
• Missing member of the armed forces: means an individual who meets all of the following:

  a. See Delaware Code Title 11 Sec. 8580A

• Month: means a calendar month, unless otherwise expressed. See Delaware Code Title 1 Sec. 302
• Motorsports speedway: shall mean a motorsports speedway (including any contiguous land when being used in connection with its events) that is owned, leased, under easement, and/or operated by any person and having a seating capacity of at least 5,000 seats. See Delaware Code Title 4 Sec. 101
• Movie theater: shall mean an indoor facility used to host showings of motion pictures and that has a capacity of at least 500 patrons for any single movie showing or for showing of multiple movies in separate theaters at the same time. See Delaware Code Title 4 Sec. 101
• Multi-purpose sports facility: shall mean a stadium, featuring sporting events where admission fees are charged to the public and having a seating capacity of at least 2,500 seats, and excludes stadia which are operated and maintained by educational institutions, including, but not limited to, high schools, colleges or universities. See Delaware Code Title 4 Sec. 101
• Multiple activity club: is a club as to which, in the determination of the Commissioner, the service of spirits, wine or beer is not the principal activity in the premises of the club as established by the following:

  a. See Delaware Code Title 4 Sec. 101

• Nolo contendere: No contest-has the same effect as a plea of guilty, as far as the criminal sentence is concerned, but may not be considered as an admission of guilt for any other purpose.
• Oral argument: An opportunity for lawyers to summarize their position before the court and also to answer the judges' questions.
• Oversight: Committee review of the activities of a Federal agency or program.
• Person: includes an individual, a partnership, a corporation, a club or any other association of individuals. See Delaware Code Title 4 Sec. 101
• Person: means an individual, corporation, statutory trust, business trust, estate, trust, partnership, association, joint venture, government, governmental subdivision, agency or instrumentality or any other legal or commercial entity. See Delaware Code Title 11 Sec. 9401
• Personal property: All property that is not real property.
• Plaintiff: The person who files the complaint in a civil lawsuit.
• Plea: In a criminal case, the defendant's statement pleading "guilty" or "not guilty" in answer to the charges, a declaration made in open court.
• Preparation: means any medicine (patented or proprietary); any mixture containing drugs or mineral substances; any perfume, lotion, tincture, varnish, dressing, fluid extract or essence, vinegar, cream, ointment or salve; any distillate or decoction, whether or not containing other substances in solution or suspension, that contains ethyl alcohol or any alcoholic liquor to any amount exceeding 1/2 of 1% by volume. See Delaware Code Title 4 Sec. 101
• President pro tempore: A constitutionally recognized officer of the Senate who presides over the chamber in the absence of the Vice President. The President Pro Tempore (or, "president for a time") is elected by the Senate and is, by custom, the Senator of the majority party with the longest record of continuous service.
• Probation: A sentencing alternative to imprisonment in which the court releases convicted defendants under supervision as long as certain conditions are observed.
• Prosecute: To charge someone with a crime. A prosecutor tries a criminal case on behalf of the government.
• Public law: A public bill or joint resolution that has passed both chambers and been enacted into law. Public laws have general applicability nationwide.
• Quorum: The number of legislators that must be present to do business.
• Real property: Land, and all immovable fixtures erected on, growing on, or affixed to the land.
• real property: is synonymous with the phrase "lands, tenements and hereditaments. See Delaware Code Title 1 Sec. 302
• Remainder: An interest in property that takes effect in the future at a specified time or after the occurrence of some event, such as the death of a life tenant.
• Remand: When an appellate court sends a case back to a lower court for further proceedings.
• Reporter: Makes a record of court proceedings and prepares a transcript, and also publishes the court's opinions or decisions (in the courts of appeals).
• Residence: means the place occupied by a person as a domicile or otherwise, either permanently or temporarily, and includes not only the premises occupied, but also every annex or dependency thereof held under the same title as the premises occupied. See Delaware Code Title 4 Sec. 101
• Restaurant: means any establishment which is regularly used and kept open principally for the purpose of serving complete meals to persons for consideration and which has seating at tables for 12 or more persons and suitable kitchen facilities connected therewith for cooking an assortment of foods under the charge of a chef or cook. See Delaware Code Title 4 Sec. 101
• Restitution: The court-ordered payment of money by the defendant to the victim for damages caused by the criminal action.
• Sale: means every act of selling as defined in this section. See Delaware Code Title 4 Sec. 101
• Sell: means : solicit or receive an order for; keep or expose for sale; deliver for value or in any other way than purely gratuitously; keep with intent to sell; keep or transport in contravention of this title; traffic in; or for any valuable consideration, promised or obtained, directly or indirectly, or under any pretext or by any means whatsoever, procure or allow to be procured for any other person, to carry alcoholic liquors on one's person or to transport with one and with intent to sell the same, but not in any establishment where the sale thereof is allowed. See Delaware Code Title 4 Sec. 101
• Spirits: means any beverage containing more than 1/2 of 1% of ethyl alcohol by volume mixed with water and other substances in solution, and includes, among other things, brandy, rum, whiskey and gin. See Delaware Code Title 4 Sec. 101
• Subpoena: A command to a witness to appear and give testimony.
• Summons: Another word for subpoena used by the criminal justice system.
• Taproom: means an establishment provided with special space and accommodations and operated primarily for the sale by the glass and for consumption on the premises of alcoholic liquors with the sale of food as a secondary object as distinguished from a restaurant where the sale of food is the primary object. See Delaware Code Title 4 Sec. 101
• Tavern: means any establishment with special space and accommodation for sale of beer and wine as defined in this section to be sold to each customer in single servings. See Delaware Code Title 4 Sec. 101
• Temporary large event: means a public or private gathering of more than 1,000 people where food or drink are sold, served or dispensed and which requires an entrance ticket or entrance fee to attend, including but not limited to a: music festival; car show; auction; convention or rally. See Delaware Code Title 4 Sec. 101
• Testimony: Evidence presented orally by witnesses during trials or before grand juries.
• Transcript: A written, word-for-word record of what was said, either in a proceeding such as a trial or during some other conversation, as in a transcript of a hearing or oral deposition.
• Trial: A hearing that takes place when the defendant pleads "not guilty" and witnesses are required to come to court to give evidence.
• Trial jury: A group of citizens who hear the evidence presented by both sides at trial and determine the facts in dispute. Federal criminal juries consist of 12 persons. Federal civil juries consist of six persons.
• Trustee: A person or institution holding and administering property in trust.
• Verdict: The decision of a petit jury or a judge.
• Veteran: means an individual who has served in the United States Armed Forces, including the National Guard or the reserves. See Delaware Code Title 11 Sec. 8580A
• Victim: includes a parent, guardian or custodian of a victim who is unable to meaningfully understand or participate in the legal process due to physical, psychological or mental impairment. See Delaware Code Title 11 Sec. 9401
• Wine: means any beverage containing more than 1/2 of 1% ethyl alcohol by volume obtained by the fermentation of the natural contents of fruits, vegetables or other products and other vinous liquors, and also includes such beverages when fortified by the addition of alcohol or spirits as defined in this section. See Delaware Code Title 4 Sec. 101
• Witness: means any person other than a law-enforcement officer or probation officer who has knowledge of the existence or nonexistence of any fact related to any crime, or any person who has reported any crime to any law-enforcement officer or probation officer, or any person other than a law-enforcement officer or probation officer who has been designated for service with a subpoena issued by any court or by the Attorney General, or any person other than a law-enforcement officer or probation officer who would be believed by any reasonable person to be an individual described by this paragraph. See Delaware Code Title 11 Sec. 9401
• Writ: A formal written command, issued from the court, requiring the performance of a specific act.
• Writ of certiorari: An order issued by the Supreme Court directing the lower court to transmit records for a case for which it will hear on appeal.