Champerty refers to an arrangement in common law where a third party, such as an attorney, underwrites the costs of a lawsuit in exchange for a portion of the expected damages. Once illegal, champerty is now prohibited in modified form in only a few jurisdictions.
A circuit is a geographical area within which a court has jurisdiction to hear and decide cases. Circuit courts often travel between locations within the territory to administer justice.
In Personam (against the person) refers to legal actions directed towards an individual, based on personal liability and requiring the court to have jurisdiction over the defendant.
Jurisdiction refers to the power, right, or authority to interpret and apply laws or decisions in specific legal matters, often determined by geography, type of legal issue, or specific court mandates.
Res Judicata is a legal doctrine which prevents parties from relitigating the same issue that has already been resolved by a competent court through a final judgment.
A U.S. citizen is any person born or naturalized in the United States and subject to its jurisdiction. This status affords certain rights, privileges, and responsibilities under U.S. law.
