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Simple English definitions for legal terms
authorities
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A quick definition of authorities:
Authorities are either previous decisions made by courts that guide current legal cases or law enforcement officials, such as the police. When lawyers argue their case in court, they often refer to past cases as "authorities" to support their arguments. If someone needs help from the police, they might say they need to call the authorities.
A more thorough explanation:
Definition: Authorities can refer to:
- Previous decisions made by courts of appeal that provide legal guidance to a court on questions in a current lawsuit. These previous decisions are called "precedents." Lawyers often use these precedents as "points and authorities" in their legal arguments. For example, a lawyer might cite a previous case as an authority for their legal position.
- Law enforcement, such as the police. For example, someone might say "I'm going to call the authorities" if they need help from the police.
Examples:
- Example 1: In a court case, a lawyer might cite a previous case where a similar legal issue was decided in favor of their client. They would use this previous case as an authority to support their argument.
- Example 2: If someone witnesses a crime, they might call the authorities (i.e. the police) to report it.
Explanation: The term "authorities" can refer to legal precedents that lawyers use to support their arguments in court, or it can refer to law enforcement, such as the police. In both examples, the term "authorities" is used to refer to a source of help or guidance. In the legal example, the lawyer is using previous court decisions as a source of guidance for their argument. In the law enforcement example, the person is calling the police for help in a situation where they need assistance.