Law lexicon
Ratification - The confirmation or adoption of a previous act done either by the party himself or by another.
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Ratio decidendi - The ground or reason of the decision in a case.
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Real property - Land, buildings, and whatever is attached or affixed to the land. Generally synonymous with the words "real estate."
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Reasonable doubt - An accused person is entitled to acquittal if, in the minds of the jury, his or her guilt has not been proved beyond a "reasonable doubt;" that state of minds of jurors in which they cannot say they feel an abiding conviction as to the truth of the charge.
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Reasonable person - A phrase used to denote a hypothetical person who exercises qualities of attention, knowledge; intelligence, and judgment that society requires of its members for the protection of their own interest and the interests of others. Thus, the test of negligence is based on either a failure to do something that a reasonable person, guided by considerations that ordinarily regulate conduct, would do, or on the doing of something that a reasonable and prudent (wise) person would not do.
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Rebut - Evidence disproving other evidence previously given or reestablishing the credibility of challenged evidence.
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Recidivism - The continued, habitual or compulsive commission of law violations after first having been convicted or prior offenses.
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Recognizance - An obligation entered into before a court whereby the recognizor acknowledges that he will do a specific act required by law.
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Record - All the documents and evidence plus transcripts of oral proceedings in a case.
Source: Jurist International.
