excuse (eks-kyoos), n. 1. A reason that justifies an act or omission or that relieves a person of a duty. 2. Criminal law. A defense that arises because the defendant is not blameworthy for having acted in a way that would otherwise be criminal. • The following defenses are the traditional excuses: duress, entrapment, infancy, […]
plea n. (1)答辩 １刑事诉讼中被告人对所受犯罪指控所作的正式回答，通常被告人可以作「认罪」、「不认罪」或「不愿争辩」的答辩；２在民事诉讼中，指在采用现代的诉讼规则之前，当事人在诉讼过程中可以使用或提出的各种具体的答辩或申请。早期普通法上民事诉讼中的答辩主要有两类：一类是延诉答辩〔dilatory plea〕，包括就法院的管辖权提出的答辩〔pleas to the jurisdiction〕，中止诉讼的答辩〔pleas in suspension〕(例如主张当事人未成年〔infancy〕)和起诉不当答辩〔plea in abatement〕；一类是绝对性答辩〔peremptory plea〕，包括各种表明被告对原告的起诉有实质性抗辩理由的终止诉讼答辩〔pleas in bar〕，例如被告可以作否认答辩〔traverse〕，或承认但无效的答辩〔plea in confession and avoidance〕。该词已很少用于指现代民事案件中当事人的答辩。在英国，pleas已经被statement of defence替代。 (2)(诉讼中提出的)事实主张；诉状 (3)(古)诉讼
voidable, adj. Valid until annulled; esp., (of a contract) capable of being affirmed or rejected at the option of one of the parties. • This term describes a valid act that may be voided rather than an invalid act that may be ratified. — Also termed avoidable. [Cases: Contracts 98, 136. C.J.S. Contracts §§ 137,
aetas infantiae proxima (ee-tas in-fan-shee-ee prok-s[schwa]-m[schwa]), n. [Latin] Roman law. The first part of the period of childhood between infancy (up to 7 years) and puberty (12 to 14 years); esp., for males, the period between 7 and 10 1/2 years of age. Cf. AETAS PUBERTATI PROXIMA; PUERITIA.
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special plea 特别答辩 １在美国指刑事被告人提出的有罪答辩或无罪答辩以外的其他形式的答辩。２在英国，指非以概括否认〔general issue〕的形式作出的答辩，而是提出一些确定性事项作为答辩理由，如未成年〔infancy〕、妻子的地位〔coverture〕、诉讼时傚法〔statute of limitations〕等。 (→special defence)
abnormal law. The law as it applies to persons who are under legal disabilities such as infancy, alienage, insanity, criminality, and (formerly) coverture.
A guardian responsible for taking care of someone who is incapable of caring for himself or herself because of infancy, incapacity, or disability.
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puerility (pyoo-[schwa]-ril-[schwa]-tee or pyuu-ril-[schwa]-tee).Civil law. A child’s status between infancy and puberty.
The mental ability that a person must possess to be held accountable for a crime; the ability to understand right from wrong. See INSANITY; INFANCY. [Cases: Criminal Law 46; Homicide 815. C.J.S. Criminal Law §§ 96–98, 113.]
minority. 1. The state or condition of being under legal age. • In Scots law, legal minority begins at the end of puberty; until then, a person is a pupil. — Also termed infancy; nonage; immaturity. Cf. MAJORITY(1). [Cases: Infants 1. C.J.S. Infants §§ 2–4.] 2. A group having fewer than a controlling number of