The Law Dictionary for Everyone
Negligent homicide refers to the killing of another person through reckless or negligent behavior. It differs from other forms of homicide due to the implied lack of malice and intent. Common examples of negligent homicide involve motor vehicle accidents that result in fatalities. To explore this concept, consider the following negligent homicide definition. Definition or Negligent Homicide Noun The killing […]
Read moreFollowing is the case brief for Coker v. Georgia, 433 U.S. 584 (1977) Case Summary of Coker v. Georgia: Petitioner was convicted of rape and other violent offenses. He was sentenced to death on the rape charge. The Georgia Supreme Court affirmed petitioner’s conviction and sentence. The U.S. Supreme Court reversed. The Court held that the death penalty for the […]
Read moreFollowing is the case brief for Atkins v. Virginia, Supreme Court of the United States, (2002) Case summary for Atkins v. Virginia: Daryl Atkins has an IQ of 59 and was sentenced to death for robbing and murdering a man at gun point. Atkins appealed his death sentence to the United States Supreme Court, claiming it violated the Eighth Amendment. […]
Read moreFollowing is the case brief for Miller v. Alabama, 567 U.S. Supreme Court (2012). Case Summary of Miller v. Alabama: This case involves two companion cases. In both cases, a 14-year-old was convicted of murder and sentenced to a mandatory term of life in prison without parole. Both defendants argued that a sentence of life without parole for a juvenile violates the […]
Read moreThe term parricide is defined as the murder of a close relative. Some may confuse “parricide” with “patricide,” but the latter term refers only to the murder of one’s father. The term “parricide,” on the other hand, is used to define the murder of one’s parents, siblings, or another close relative. Those who engage in parricide often do so due […]
Read moreCapital murder is a murder that subjects the perpetrator to the death penalty if found guilty. For this to apply, there has to have been some horrific extenuating circumstance, often called “special circumstance,” in addition to causing the death. This may include such things as murdering a police officer, murdering a child, or murdering multiple victims. To explore this concept, […]
Read moreVoluntary manslaughter is a crime that occurs when someone kills another person with no prior intent to harm or kill, but under a sudden circumstance that made him mentally or emotionally distraught. Voluntary manslaughter is often referred to as killing in the “heat of passion.” The difference between voluntary manslaughter and murder is often the provocation to kill. To explore […]
Read moreSecond degree murder is a criminal law term that describes the killing of another human being without premeditation, but with intent. Second degree murder may also refer to a death caused by an individual’s negligent or reckless conduct. To explore this concept, consider the second degree murder definition. Definition of Second Degree Murder Noun The killing of another human being intentionally, but […]
Read moreThe statute of limitations refers to the time limit imposed by law in which a lawsuit or criminal can be filed. This time period varies by state, and by the type of case. Once the time limit specified by law passes, the lawsuit or criminal charges can no longer be filed. To explore this concept, consider the following statute of […]
Read moreThe term statutory rape refers to the engaging in sexual activity with an individual who is under the age specified by law to give consent. The age at which a person can legally consent to sex varies by state, but is generally between the ages of 15 and 18. Sexual activity that leads to statutory rape charges is usually consensual, […]
Read more