Immunity - Grant by the court, which assures someone will not face prosecution in return for providing criminal evidence.
Impeachment - A criminal proceeding against a public official.
Impeachment of a Witness - An attack on the credibility (believability) of a witness, through evidence introduced for that purpose.
Implied contract - A contract not created or evidenced by the explicit agreement of the parties but one inferred by law; as the use of electric power in your home implies a contract with the electric company.
Inadmissible - That which, under the rules of evidence, cannot be admitted or received as evidence.
Incapacity - Lack of legal ability to act; disability, incompetence; lack of adequate power.
Incarceration - Imprisonment in a jail or penitentiary.
Incompetent - One who lacks ability, legal qualification, or fitness to manage his own affairs.
Indictment - A written accusation by a grand jury charging a person with a crime.
Indigent - Needy or impoverished. A defendant who can demonstrate his or her indigence to the court may be assigned a court-appointed attorney at public expense.
Initial appearance - The defendant comes before a judge within hours of the arrest to determine whether or not there is probable cause for his/her arrest. Also called “First Appearance.”
Information - Accusatory document, filed by the prosecutor, detailing the charges against the defendant. An alternative to an indictment, it serves to bring a defendant to trial.
Infraction - A violation of law not punishable by imprisonment. Minor traffic offenses generally are considered infractions.
Injunction - A prohibitive order or remedy issued by the court at the suit of the complaining party, which forbids the defendant to do some act which he/she is threatening or attempting to do. Conversely, it may require him/her to perform an act which he/she is obligated to perform but refuses to do.
Insolvent - When the total debt of an entity is greater than all of its property.
Instructions - A judge’s explanation to the jury before it begins deliberations of the question it must answer and the applicable law governing the case. Also referred to as the “Charge.”
Intentional Tort - Wrong perpetrated by one who intends to break the law.
Interlocutory - Temporary; provisional; interim; not final.
Interrogatories - A set or series of written questions propounded to a party, witness, or other person having information or interest in a case; a discovery device.
Intervention - An action by which a third person who may be affected by a lawsuit is permitted to become a party to the suit.
Issue - 1. The disputed point in a disagreement between parties in a lawsuit. 2. To send out officially, as in to issue an order.