7 - 11s glossary

Case
A set of facts giving rise to a legal claim, or to a defense to a legal claim.

Caution
1. A formal warning given by the police. It is given instead of a charge, which would involve a court case.

2. The words the police officer must use before interviewing a suspect.

Chairman of the Court
The magistrate in overall charge of a magistrate’s court.

Charge
Formally accuse a person of committing a crime. The police charge a person when there is enough evidence that links them to the crime.

Civil case
A court case that attempts to settle a dispute between people/groups of people/organisations.

Civil offence
Usually a dispute between two people or between a person and an organisation.