vacate
The
judge has the ultimate power to rule on all issues
of fact and law. The court can even vacate a judgement
if he believes it to be improper.
vacation
time
Paid
or unpaid time off from work to take a vacation.
vagrancy
This
is better known as loitering or causing a public nuisance.
Vagrancy is typically the product of poverty and mental
illness. This has been constitutionally challenged
on the basis that it should not be a crime to be homeless.
value
The
present worth of property, given its age and present
condition.
vehicular
manslaughter
The
unintentional killing of a human being by the reckless
use of an automobile. Most criminal charges are based
on impaired driving as the result of drug and/or alcohol
use.
venue
The
proper court or venue in a criminal case is the judicial
district or county in which the crime was committed.
In certain criminal matters where the crime received
substantial publicity, the defense lawyer may motion
the court for a change in venue. The motion is based
on the argument that the defendant could not receive
a fair trial in the county in which the crime took
place because jurors have been exposed to the pretrial
publicity and therefore predisposed to decide the
case before hearing any of the evidence.
verdict
At
the conclusion of a trial the defendant will receive
the decision of the jury regarding the defendant’s
guilt or innocence. The trial court, when it acts
as the trier of fact, can also render a verdict. All
verdicts are subject to appeal and review by a higher
court.
veterans'
benefits
Compensation
from the government for previous military service.
Such benefits are exempt property in bankruptcy.
veteran
status discrimination
Veteran
status discrimination occurs when an employer treats
an employee differently because of the employee's
military veteran status.
visa
A travel document allowing a person to seek admission
to a country. A visa may be in the form of an immigrant
visa, a nonimmigrant visa, or a refugee visa.
visa lottery
An annual lottery conducted to allow the admission
of a limited number of persons from certain designated
countries as immigrants.
visitation
rights
Rights
granted to the spouse who does not have physical custody
of the child to spend specified periods of time with
the child. Visitation rights are sometimes granted
to other relatives, such as grandparents.
vocational
rehabilitation
Training
that is paid for by an employer or workers' compensation
insurance company for a worker whose on-the-job injury
prevents him from going back to his old job.
void
marriage
A
marriage invalid for any purpose. For example, a marriage
between brother and sister is invalid from its inception
and is void. Compare Voidable Marriage.
voidable
marriage
A
marriage in which one or more requirements was not
met, but which remains valid until a court annuls
it. For example, a marriage entered into by persons
younger than the legal age is voidable, but it remains
a valid marriage until a court decree of annulment.
voir
dire
French
for "speak the truth." It
is the formal questioning of prospective
jurors to determine if they could
be fair and follow the law as
it relates to their judgements
and predispositions. Prospective
jurors are asked to speak the
truth about their ideas and feelings
relative to the crime they must
judge. If the juror is so biased
or has such prejudice that he
or she could not be fair and follow
the law, the juror will be excused
and removed from serving.
