Legal Glossary

R

ratification - The confirmation or adoption of a previous act done either by the party himself or by another.

ratio decidendi - The ground or reason of the decision in a case.

real evidence - Evidence given to explain, repel, counteract, or disprove facts -iven in evidence by the adverse party.

reasonable doubt - A person accused of a crime is entitled to acquittal if, in the minds of the jury or judge, his or her guilt has not been proved beyond a "reasonable doubt"; the jurors are not entirely convinced of the person's guilt.

rebuttal evidence - Evidence given to explain, repel, contradict, or disprove facts given in evidence by the adverse party.

recidivism - The continued, habitual or compulsive commission of law violations after first having been convicted or prior offenses.

recognizance - The practice which enables an accused awaiting trial to be released without posting any security other than a promise to appear before the court at the proper time. Failure to appear in court at the proper time is a separate crime.

redirect examination - Follow cross-examination, and is conducted by the party who first examined the witness.

referee - A person to whom a case pending in a court is referred by the court to take testimony, hear the parties and report thereon to the court. An officer exercising judicial powers and an arm of the court for a specific purpose.

relevant - An order made by a court having competent jurisdiction. Rules of court are either general or special; the former are the regulations by which the practice of the court is governed, the latter are special orders made in particular cases.