12 Angry Men Vocabulary

Trial related terms

Something planned or plotted in advance Premeditated Something planned or plotted in advance

Reasonable doubt Having no excessive, extreme, or illogical uncertainty about a situation ?

To avoid doing something by choice abstain To avoid doing something by choice

The outcome of a trial; the decision of the jury verdict The outcome of a trial; the decision of the jury

Based on complete, 100% agreement unanimous Based on complete, 100% agreement

Person who leads and speaks for a jury foreman Person who leads and speaks for a jury

The punishment given by a court of law sentence The punishment given by a court of law

to decide that someone is not guilty of a crime acquit to decide that someone is not guilty of a crime

To decide that someone is guilty of a crime convict To decide that someone is guilty of a crime

a reason for doing something Motive a reason for doing something

Cross-examination to ask more questions of a witness who has been questioned by another lawyer

A vote done anonymously Secret ballot A vote done anonymously

a person accused of a crime and taken to court defendant a person accused of a crime and taken to court

defense The legal team who represents the accused, or the defendant, during the trial

Prosecution The legal team who presents the case in a criminal trial against an individual suspected of breaking the law

required by a law or rule mandatory required by a law or rule

a jury that is unable to agree on a verdict – the result is a mistrial Hung jury a jury that is unable to agree on a verdict – the result is a mistrial

testimony something that someone says especially in a court of law while formally promising to tell the truth

kind or forgiving treatment of someone who could be treated harshly mercy kind or forgiving treatment of someone who could be treated harshly

Alternate juror A juror who is chosen to take another juror’s place if he or she becomes unable to continue serving on the jury

Open and shut case a legal case or other matter that is easy to prove or decide because the facts are very clear

Circumstantial evidence Evidence based on information which suggests that something is true but does not prove that it is true

witness a person who makes a statement in a court about what he or she knows or has seen

forgery the crime of falsely making or copying a document in order to deceive people

careful thought or discussion done in order to make a decision deliberations careful thought or discussion done in order to make a decision

Double jeopardy the act of causing a person to be put on trial two times for the same crime

Burden of Proof The requirement of the prosecutor to prove “beyond a reasonable doubt” that the defendant is guilty.

Contextual terms

slum an area of a city where poor people live and the buildings are in bad condition

appalled to cause (someone) to feel fear, shock, or disgust

bigot A person who is stubbornly intolerant of members of a particular group, especially a racial or religious group

dogged stubbornly determined; persistent

El train an urban railway track, built on supports  above a road

insignificant small or unimportant

riffle to look through something quickly and not very closely

sadist A person who gets enjoyment from being cruel or causing pain

Superficial As a character trait shallow minded; not caring about important matters or deep emotions

petty Small minded; treating others harshly or unfairly because of things that are not really important

meek Having a quiet and gentle nature; not wanting to fight or argue with others

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