| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Habeas corpus | A writ used as a means to bring a person before the court to determine whether he/she is being detained unlawfully. |
| Harmless error | An error committed during a trial that was corrected or was not serious enough to affect the outcome of a trial and therefore was not sufficiently harmful (prejudicial) to be reversed on appeal. |
| Hearing proceedings | A record of the testimony and evidence entered. |
| Hearsay | Statements by a witness who did not see or hear the incident in question but heard about it from someone else. Hearsay is usually not admissible as evidence in court. |
| Hostile witness | A witness whose testimony is not favorable to the party who calls him/her as a witness. A hostile witness may be asked leading questions and may be cross examined by the party who calls him/her to the stand. |
| Hung jury | Jury unable to reach a verdict. |
Glossary
