Sua sponte Latin, meaning of its own will. Often refers to a court taking an action in a case without being asked to do so by either side.

Subordination The act or process by which a person's rights or claims are ranked below those of others.

Subpoena A command, issued under a court's authority, to a witness to appear and give testimony.

Subpoena duces tecum A command to a witness to appear and produce documents.

Substance abuse treatment A special condition the court imposes that requires an individual to undergo testing and treatment for abuse of illegal drugs, prescription drugs, or alcohol. Treatment may include inpatient or outpatient counseling and detoxification.

Bankruptcy estate All interests of the debtor in property at the time of the bankruptcy filing. The estate technically becomes the temporary legal owner of all of the debtor's property.

Bankruptcy judge A judicial officer of the United States district court who is the court official with decision-making power over federal bankruptcy cases.

Business bankruptcy A bankruptcy case in which the debtor is a business or an individual involved in business and the debts are for business purposes.

Capital offense A crime punishable by death.

Case file A complete collection of every document filed in court in a case. Case law The law as established in previous court decisions. A synonym for legal precedent. Akin to common law, which springs from tradition and judicial decisions.

Caseload The number of cases handled by a judge or a court.

Cause of action A legal claim.

Chambers The offices of a judge and his or her staff.

Chapter 7 The chapter of the Bankruptcy Code providing for liquidation, that is, the sale of a debtor's property whis is not exempt and the distribution of the proceeds to creditors. In order to be eligible for Chapter 7, the debtor must satisfy a means test. The court will evaluate the debtor's income and expenses to determine if the debtor may proceed under Chapter 7. .

Consumer debts Debts incurred for personal, as opposed to business, needs.

Contingent claim A claim that may be owed by the debtor under certain circumstances, where the debtor is a cosigner on another person's loan and that person fails to pay.

Contract An agreement between two or more people that creates an obligation to do or not to do a particular thing.

Conviction A judgment of guilt against a criminal defendant.

Counsel Legal advice; a term also used to refer to the lawyers in a case.

Court Government entity authorized to resolve legal disputes. Judges sometimes use court to refer to themselves in the third person, as in the court has read the briefs.

Court reporter A person who makes a word-for-word record of what is said in court, generally by using a stenographic machine, shorthand or audio recording, and then produces a transcript of the proceedings upon request.

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