Simple English definitions for legal terms
Read a random definition: political offense
Breaking a case refers to two different things. Firstly, it can mean when one judge on a panel of judges shares their opinion on how a case should be decided with another judge. This helps the judges figure out how close they are to agreeing on a decision. Secondly, it can also mean when the police solve a case.
Definition: Breaking a case refers to two different things:
Example 1: During an appeals court hearing, one judge might say to another, "I'm leaning towards ruling in favor of the defendant because of X, Y, and Z reasons." This is an example of breaking a case because the judge is sharing their initial thoughts on how the case should be decided.
Example 2: The police have been investigating a robbery for weeks. Finally, they gather enough evidence to arrest a suspect and charge them with the crime. This is an example of breaking a case because the police have solved the case.
Both examples illustrate breaking a case because they involve reaching a conclusion or decision. In the first example, the judges are working towards a decision on the case, while in the second example, the police have reached a conclusion about who committed the crime.