901. Civil Action

Any lawsuit relating to civil matters and not criminal prosecution.

902. Civil

1) In law, the part that encompasses businesses, contracts, estates, domestic relations, accidents, negligence and everything related to legal issues, statutes and lawsuits, that is not

criminal law. 2) Used in referring to one's basic rights guaranteed under the Constitution.

903. Citizen

A person who by place of birth, nationality of one or both parents, or by going through a naturalization process has sworn loyalty to a nation.

904. Cite

1) To make reference to a decision in another case to make a legal point in argument. 2) To give notice of being charged with a minor crime and a date for appearance in court to answer the charge rather than being arrested.

905. Citation

1) A notice to appear in court due to a probable commission of a minor crime such as a traffic violation, drinking liquor in a park where prohibited, letting a dog loose without a leash, and in some states for possession of a small amount of marijuana. Failure to appear can result in a warrant for the citee's arrest. 2) The act of referring to (citing) a statute, precedent-setting case or legal textbook, in a brief or argument in court, called "citation of authority." 4) the section of the statute or the name of the case as well as the volume number, the report series and the page number of a case referred to in a brief, points and authorities, or other legal argument.

906. Circumstantial Evidence

Evidence in a trial which is not directly from an eyewitness or participant and requires some reasoning to prove as fact.

907. Circuit Courts

A movable court in which the judge holds court sessions at several different locations for pre-specified periods of time. In effect, the judge "rides the circuit" from town to town and takes the "court" with him. Formerly, the Federal District Courts of Appeal were called the Circuit Courts of Appeal.

908. Churning

The unethical and usually illegal practice of excessive buying and selling of shares for a stock for a customer by a stockbroker or sales agent for the purpose of obtaining high sales commissions.

909. Child Support

A court ordered mandate for funds to be paid by one parent to the custodial parent of a minor child after divorce.

910. Child Custody

court's determination of which parent, relative, or other adult should have physical and/or legal control and responsibility for a minor (child) under 18