M

Magistrate (See U.S. Magistrate Judge.)

Judicial officer exercising some of the functions of a judge. It also refers in a general way to a judge.

Malfeasance

The commission of an unlawful act.

Malicious prosecution

An action instituted with intention of injuring the defendant and without probable cause, and which terminates in favor of the person prosecuted.

Malpractice

Any professional misconduct.

Manslaughter

The unlawful killing of another without intent to kill; either voluntary (upon a sudden impulse); or involuntary (during the commission of an unlawful act not ordinarily expected to result in great bodily harm). (See also murder.)

Marshal

The executive officer of the federal court.

Martindale-Hubbell Law

A publication of several volumes which contains names, addresses, Director specialties, and rating of United States lawyers; also includes digests of state and foreign statutory law.

Mediation

A form of alternative dispute resolution in which the parties bring their dispute to a neutral third party, who helps them agree on a settlement.

Memorandum

An informal note or instrument embodying something the parties desire to have in written evidence.

Memorialized

In writing.

Merger

The absorption of one thing or right into another.

Minor

A person under the age of legal competence.

Minute book

A book maintained by the courtroom deputy (bailiff), which contains minute entries of all hearings and trial conducted by the judge.

Minutes

Memorandum of a transaction or proceeding.

Miranda warning

Requirement that police tell a suspect in their custody of his or her constitutional rights before they question him or her. So named as a result of the Miranda v. Arizona ruling by the United States Supreme Court.

Misdemeanor

A criminal offense lesser than a felony and generally punishable by fine or by imprisonment other than in a penitentiary.

Misfeasance

Improper performance of an act which a person might lawfully do.

Mistrial

An invalid trial, caused by fundamental error. When a mistrial is declared, the trial must start again from the selection of the jury.

Mitigating circumstances

Those which do not constitute a justification or excuse for an offense but which may be considered as reasons for reducing the degree of blame.

Mittimus

The name of an order in writing, issuing from a court and directing the sheriff or other officer to convey a person to a prison, asylum, or reformatory, and directing the jailer or other appropriate official to receive and safely keep the person until his or her fate shall be determined by due course of law.

Mitigation

A reduction, abatement, or diminution of a penalty or punishment imposed by law.

Moot

A moot case or a moot point is one not subject to a judicial determination because it involves an abstract question or a pretended controversy that has not yet actually arisen or has already passed. Mootness usually refers to a court’s refusal to consider a case because the issue involved has been resolved prior to the court’s decision, leaving nothing that would be affected by the court’s decision.

Motion

An application made to a court or judge which requests a ruling or order in favor of the applicant.

Motion in Limine

A motion made by counsel requesting that information which might be prejudicial not be allowed to be heard in a case.

Murder

The unlawful killing of a human being with deliberate intent to kill: (1) murder in the first degree is characterized by premeditation; (2) murder in the second degree is characterized by a sudden and instantaneous intent to kill or to cause injury without caring whether the injury kills or not.

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Case Results

Possession of Alcohol by an Underaged Person

The Defendant was arrested for possessing alcohol at a USF tailgate. After the Defense presented his argument, charges were successfully dismissed.
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Aggravated Assault with Deadly Weapon Dismissed

The Defendant was charged with Aggravated Assault with a deadly weapon after his estranged wife claimed that he tried to ram her vehicle with his. After providing sufficient evidence to the State contradicting the wife’s
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Federal Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Charges Dropped

Our Client was originally charged with conspiracy to possess and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine after being present for a controlled buy with a co-defendant. The Client was originally facing a minimum mandatory sentence
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