Law is one of Jeopardy!'s heavyweight topics, with 1,712 clues and 36 Final Jeopardy appearances spanning more than three decades of the show. Unlike many major topics that skew toward easier Jeopardy-round clues, Law is balanced across rounds, 46.6% of clues appear in the Jeopardy round and 51.2% in Double Jeopardy, suggesting the writers treat it as a topic that scales naturally from accessible to expert-level.
The topic breaks cleanly into three major sub-domains. The Supreme Court dominates with 250+ clues spread across categories like "THE SUPREME COURT" (122 clues), "SUPREME COURT JUSTICES" (65), and "SUPREME COURT DECISIONS" (20). Crime follows with 200+ clues in categories like "CRIME & PUNISHMENT" (97), "CRIME TIME" (56), and "CRIME" (34). Legal terminology rounds out the third pillar with 200+ clues across "LEGAL LINGO" (70), "LEGAL MATTERS" (35), "LEGAL BRIEFS" (25), and "LATIN LEGAL LINGO" (10). The umbrella categories "LAW" (206) and "THE LAW" (73) draw from all three sub-domains.
What makes Law distinctive among Jeopardy topics is its high accuracy. Contestants know this material. The vast majority of answers with five or more appearances have accuracy rates above 85%, and many hit a perfect 100%. The stumper zone is unusually thin, you'll find it mostly at the Final Jeopardy level or in clues about obscure justices like Antonin Scalia and William O. Douglas.
The gimmes: John Jay (11, 100%), Sandra Day O'Connor (10, 100%), Manslaughter (8, 100%), Murder (5, 100%), Subpoena (5, 100%), Roe v. Wade (5, 100%), Ruth Bader Ginsburg (5, 100%), Clarence Thomas (5, 100%), William Howard Taft (10 combined, 100%), Earl Warren (6, 100%), Moot court (4, 100%), Habeas corpus (4, 100%), Tort (4, 100%), Probate (4, 100%), Treason (4, 100%), Chattel (4, 100%), Oliver Wendell Holmes (4, 100%), Louis Brandeis (4, 100%), William Rehnquist (4, 100%).
The stumper zone: Antonin Scalia (4, 0% correct: nobody gets this!), William O. Douglas (3, 0% correct), diplomatic immunity (3, 33.3% correct), Nolo contendere (5, 83.3%), Libel (6, 87.5%), Pro bono (4, 75%). At the Final Jeopardy level: "verdict" etymology (0/3 correct), "copyright" as first US law (0/3 correct), Warren Burger as longest-serving 20th-century Chief Justice (0/3 correct).
Study strategy: This topic rewards systematic preparation in three distinct areas. First, learn the Supreme Court justices, especially the Chief Justices in chronological order and each justice's "signature fact" (first woman, first Black justice, etc.). Second, memorize the landmark cases and what each one decided. Third, drill the Latin legal terms, which appear with clockwork regularity. The good news is that accuracy is so high in this topic that solid preparation should yield near-perfect results in regular gameplay. The danger lies almost entirely in Final Jeopardy, where Supreme Court biography dominates and the show tests deep knowledge of individual justices' careers.
~250 clues · 90%+ correct
The Supreme Court is the single largest sub-domain within Law, and it dominates Final Jeopardy appearances as well. Roughly 20 of the topic's 36 FJ clues focus on the Court; its justices, its history, its role in American government. If you study nothing else about Law for Jeopardy, study the Supreme Court.
Knowing the Chief Justices of the United States in order is one of the highest-value investments you can make for Jeopardy. The show returns to this list again and again, both in regular play and Final Jeopardy.
John Jay (11 clues, 100% correct), The most-tested Supreme Court answer in the entire topic, and a perfect gimme. Jay was the first Chief Justice of the United States, serving from 1789 to 1795. But Jeopardy doesn't just ask about his judicial role. Clues also test that he was a co-author of the Federalist Papers (along with Hamilton and Madison), that he negotiated "Jay's Treaty" with Britain in 1794, and that a college in New York City bears his name (John Jay College of Criminal Justice). The show loves the "first Chief Justice" angle, if you hear any clue about the earliest Supreme Court, Jay is almost certainly the answer.
John Marshall (4 clues, 80% correct), The longest-serving Chief Justice in history (1801–1835), Marshall established the principle of judicial review in Marbury v. Madison. He served under six presidents. The show tests his foundational role in shaping the Court's power. At 80% accuracy, he's slightly trickier than Jay, likely because clues about Marshall tend to focus on constitutional principles rather than simple "first" or "longest" facts.
Earl Warren (6 clues, 100% correct), Another perfect-accuracy answer. Warren served as Chief Justice from 1953 to 1969, presiding over some of the most consequential decisions in American history, including Brown v. Board of Education (1954). Before joining the Court, he was Governor of California. The "Warren Court" is synonymous with judicial activism and the expansion of civil rights and civil liberties. Jeopardy clues tend to connect him to Brown v. Board or to the Warren Commission, which he chaired to investigate the assassination of President Kennedy.
William Howard Taft (10 combined clues, 100% correct); Taft is a Jeopardy favorite because of his unique dual distinction: he is the only person to have served as both President of the United States (1909–1913) and Chief Justice of the Supreme Court (1921–1930). The show asks about this fact from every conceivable angle. He reportedly said he found the Chief Justice role more satisfying than the presidency. FJ clues have tested his appointment history and his role as Chief Justice.
Warren Burger, Burger served as Chief Justice from 1969 to 1986, making him the longest-serving Chief Justice of the 20th century. This fact appeared as a Final Jeopardy clue; and nobody got it (0/3 correct). Burger is one of those answers that falls into a knowledge gap: contestants know the famous Chief Justices (Marshall, Warren, Roberts) but Burger sits in a blind spot.
William Rehnquist (4 clues, 100% correct), Rehnquist served as an Associate Justice from 1972 to 1986, then as Chief Justice from 1986 until his death in 2005. He presided over the impeachment trial of President Clinton in 1999. Final Jeopardy has tested his career, and regular clues achieve perfect accuracy.
Sandra Day O'Connor (10 clues, 100% correct), The first woman appointed to the Supreme Court (1981, by President Reagan). O'Connor is one of the topic's most reliable gimmes. She was from Arizona, graduated from Stanford Law School, and after retiring from the Court, created the iCivics educational website to teach students about government. Jeopardy clues almost always approach her through the "first woman" angle, making her nearly impossible to miss if you know that single fact.
Thurgood Marshall (8 clues, 87.5% correct), The first Black justice on the Supreme Court (1967, appointed by President Johnson). Before his appointment, Marshall served as chief counsel for the NAACP and successfully argued Brown v. Board of Education before the Court. He was replaced upon his retirement by Clarence Thomas. At 87.5% accuracy, Marshall is slightly harder than O'Connor, perhaps because clues sometimes test his pre-Court career rather than just the "first Black justice" fact.
Ruth Bader Ginsburg (5 clues, 100% correct), Known as "the Notorious RBG," Ginsburg served from 1993 until her death in 2020. She was the second woman on the Court (after O'Connor) and became a cultural icon for her dissenting opinions. Jeopardy clues about Ginsburg are recent additions to the canon and achieve perfect accuracy.
Clarence Thomas (5 clues, 100% correct), Thomas replaced Thurgood Marshall in 1991 and is known for his contentious confirmation hearings involving Anita Hill's testimony. He is one of the most conservative justices in the Court's history. The show often clues him through his connection to Marshall or through the confirmation controversy.
Oliver Wendell Holmes (4 clues, 100% correct), Holmes served from 1902 to 1932 and is famous for his judicial philosophy and memorable quotations. His opinion in Schenck v. United States (1919) established the "clear and present danger" test and produced the famous line about shouting "fire" in a crowded theater. He was known as "The Great Dissenter." Perfect accuracy in regular play.
Louis Brandeis (4 clues, 100% correct), The first Jewish justice on the Supreme Court (1916, appointed by President Wilson). Brandeis University in Waltham, Massachusetts, is named for him. He was known as "the people's attorney" for his progressive advocacy before joining the Court. Final Jeopardy has tested his biography, and those clues run harder (1/3 correct in one appearance).
Watch out: Antonin Scalia (4 clues, 0% correct) is the single biggest stumper in the entire Law topic. Despite being one of the most prominent justices of the modern era, known for his originalist philosophy, sharp wit, and friendship with Ginsburg, contestants cannot recall his name when clued. This is a stunning 0% accuracy rate across four appearances. Similarly, William O. Douglas (3 clues, 0% correct), who served the longest term of any justice in history (36 years, 1939–1975), is another complete stumper. Both of these are high-value study targets precisely because other contestants will miss them.
~80 clues · 85%+ correct
Supreme Court decisions form a distinct sub-category within Law, with their own dedicated category ("SUPREME COURT DECISIONS," 20 clues) and frequent appearances across general Law and Supreme Court categories. The show tests both the holdings of major cases and the biographical details surrounding them, who argued them, who wrote the opinions, what constitutional principles they established.
Roe v. Wade (5 clues, 100% correct), The 1973 decision establishing a constitutional right to abortion is a perfect gimme. Jeopardy approaches it from multiple angles: the year (1973), the author of the majority opinion (Justice Harry Blackmun), the real name of "Jane Roe" (Norma McCorvey), and the trimester framework the Court established. Despite the political sensitivity, this is purely factual on the show and contestants never miss it.
Bush v. Gore (4 clues, ~75% correct), The 2000 decision that effectively decided the presidential election by halting the Florida recount. Regular clues tend to be direct, but this case appeared as a Final Jeopardy clue with only 1 of 3 contestants answering correctly; the FJ version likely required deeper knowledge of the legal reasoning or the specific vote count (5–4).
Marbury v. Madison (3 clues, 50% correct), The 1803 case that established the principle of judicial review, the power of the Supreme Court to declare laws unconstitutional. This is arguably the most important case in American constitutional law, yet contestants only get it right half the time. The difficulty likely comes from clues that test the details: Chief Justice John Marshall wrote the opinion, William Marbury was a "midnight judge" appointed by President Adams, and James Madison was Jefferson's Secretary of State who refused to deliver the commission. This case has appeared in Final Jeopardy three times with all three contestants answering correctly, suggesting the FJ versions may be more direct "name this case" clues.
Brown v. Board of Education (3 clues), The 1954 decision that declared racial segregation in public schools unconstitutional, overturning Plessy v. Ferguson (1896). Chief Justice Earl Warren wrote the unanimous opinion. Thurgood Marshall argued the case for the plaintiffs. The "Board of Education" in the case name refers to the Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas.
Dred Scott v. Sandford (3 clues), The 1857 decision that held that Black Americans could not be citizens and that Congress could not prohibit slavery in the territories. Chief Justice Roger Taney wrote the majority opinion. Widely regarded as the worst Supreme Court decision in history, it helped precipitate the Civil War. This case has appeared twice in Final Jeopardy.
Miranda v. Arizona, The 1966 decision requiring police to inform suspects of their rights before interrogation ("You have the right to remain an attorney..."). Chief Justice Warren wrote the opinion. The "Miranda warning" or "Miranda rights" are among the most culturally familiar legal concepts in America, thanks largely to television police dramas.
Plessy v. Ferguson, The 1896 decision that established the "separate but equal" doctrine, permitting racial segregation. Justice John Marshall Harlan was the lone dissenter, writing that "the Constitution is color-blind." Overturned by Brown v. Board of Education in 1954.
Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, The 2010 decision that held that corporate political spending is protected by the First Amendment. This case is more recent and tests whether contestants follow contemporary legal developments.
The show uses several reliable patterns for case clues:
Watch out: The cases that trip contestants up tend to be ones where the case name alone isn't famous enough to be a household word. Marbury v. Madison at 50% accuracy in regular play is the prime example, everyone knows "judicial review" as a concept, but connecting it to the specific case name and its details is where contestants falter. In Final Jeopardy, Bush v. Gore (1/3 correct) proves that even recent, politically charged cases can be stumpers when the clue demands specific legal details rather than just the case name.
~200 clues · 92%+ correct
Legal terminology is the third major pillar of the Law topic, and it's the area where Jeopardy most rewards raw vocabulary. The show's dedicated categories, "LEGAL LINGO" (70 clues), "LEGAL MATTERS" (35), "LEGAL BRIEFS" (25), and "LATIN LEGAL LINGO" (10), test a blend of English legal terms, Latin phrases, and procedural concepts. Accuracy is extremely high across the board, making this a reliable scoring area for prepared contestants.
Latin is the language of law, and Jeopardy exploits this connection relentlessly. These are the terms that appear most often:
Habeas corpus (4 clues, 100% correct), Latin for "you shall have the body." A writ requiring a person under arrest to be brought before a judge to determine whether the detention is lawful. One of the oldest and most fundamental legal protections in English common law, dating back to the Magna Carta. The Constitution specifically addresses it in Article I, Section 9.
Nolo contendere (5 clues, 83.3% correct), Latin for "I will not contest it." A plea in criminal court where the defendant neither admits nor denies guilt but accepts punishment. Distinguished from a guilty plea because it cannot be used as an admission of guilt in a subsequent civil lawsuit. At 83.3%, this is one of the few legal terms where accuracy dips below 90%, the full Latin phrase is apparently harder to recall than its meaning.
Pro bono (4 clues, 75% correct), Short for "pro bono publico," meaning "for the public good." Refers to legal work performed free of charge. At 75%, this is surprisingly tricky, contestants may know the concept but stumble on the exact Latin phrase, or vice versa.
Subpoena (5 clues, 100% correct), From the Latin "sub poena," meaning "under penalty." A writ ordering a person to attend court. The term "subpoena duces tecum" (bring with you) orders the production of documents.
Other Latin terms to know: Amicus curiae (friend of the court, a brief filed by a non-party), res judicata (a matter already judged), stare decisis (to stand by things decided; the principle of precedent), voir dire (jury selection process, from Old French), corpus delicti (body of the crime).
Manslaughter (8 clues, 100% correct), The killing of a person without malice aforethought or premeditation. Distinguished from murder by the absence of intent. Comes in two varieties: voluntary (heat of passion) and involuntary (criminal negligence). A perfect gimme; the show typically clues it as "killing without malice or premeditation" or by contrasting it with murder.
Murder (5 clues, 100% correct), The unlawful killing of a person with malice aforethought. First-degree murder requires premeditation; second-degree murder involves intent but not planning.
Treason (4 clues, 100% correct), The only crime specifically defined in the U.S. Constitution (Article III, Section 3): "levying War against [the United States], or in adhering to their Enemies, giving them Aid and Comfort." Requires the testimony of two witnesses to the same overt act, or a confession in open court. Benedict Arnold is the most famous American associated with treason, though he was never tried for it.
Arson (7 clues, 87.5% correct), The malicious burning of property, especially a dwelling. Often clued through insurance fraud contexts or by asking for the legal term for deliberately setting a fire. At 87.5%, slightly trickier than the other criminal terms.
Tort (4 clues, 100% correct), A civil wrong that causes harm and creates legal liability. The word comes from the Latin "tortum" (twisted). Types include negligence, defamation, and trespass. "Tort reform" refers to efforts to limit civil lawsuit damages.
Libel (6 clues, 87.5% correct), Written defamation, as distinguished from slander (spoken defamation). The mnemonic: libel is letters, slander is speech. At 87.5%, this is slightly harder than you'd expect, probably because contestants sometimes confuse libel and slander or can't recall which is which under pressure.
Chattel (4 clues, 100% correct), Movable personal property, as distinguished from real property (land). The word shares its etymological root with "cattle," reflecting an era when livestock was the primary form of movable wealth.
Probate (4 clues, 100% correct), The legal process of validating a will and administering a deceased person's estate. A "probate court" handles these matters. The word comes from the Latin "probare" (to prove).
Moot court (4 clues, 100% correct), A simulated court proceeding in which law students argue hypothetical cases, typically appellate arguments. Distinguished from mock trial, which simulates a trial court proceeding. The word "moot" itself means debatable or academic, a "moot point" is one that is open to argument or has no practical significance.
Other procedural terms to know: Arraignment (a suspect's first court appearance to hear charges and enter a plea), indictment (a formal charge by a grand jury), deposition (sworn out-of-court testimony), injunction (a court order to do or stop doing something), writ (a formal written order), brief (a written legal argument), precedent (a prior decision that guides future cases).
Watch out: The Latin terms are where contestants are most likely to stumble. Nolo contendere at 83.3% and pro bono at 75% are the two weakest performers among frequently tested legal terms. The issue isn't conceptual understanding but precise recall of the Latin phrasing. If a clue says "this Latin legal term means 'I will not contest it,'" you need the exact phrase, not a paraphrase. Drill these as vocabulary flashcards.
~200 clues · 88%+ correct
Crime is the most narratively rich sub-domain within Law. While the Supreme Court and Legal Terminology sections test knowledge of institutions and vocabulary, the Crime categories, "CRIME & PUNISHMENT" (97 clues), "CRIME TIME" (56), "CRIME" (34), and "OUTLAWS" (20), test a blend of criminal law definitions, famous criminals, law enforcement history, and punishment terminology. The show loves the intersection of crime and culture.
John Dillinger (4 clues), The Depression-era bank robber who was named "Public Enemy No. 1" by the FBI. He was shot and killed by federal agents outside the Biograph Theater in Chicago on July 22, 1934. The "Lady in Red" (Anna Sage) reportedly tipped off the FBI. Dillinger had escaped from the Crown Point, Indiana, jail using what he claimed was a wooden gun. The show tests both his criminal career and his dramatic death.
Al Capone (3 clues), The most famous gangster of the Prohibition era, Capone controlled organized crime in Chicago during the 1920s. He was ultimately convicted not of murder or racketeering but of tax evasion in 1931 and was sentenced to 11 years in federal prison. He served time at Alcatraz. His nickname was "Scarface." The show loves the irony of the tax evasion conviction, America's most notorious mobster brought down by the IRS.
Other criminals to know: Bonnie and Clyde (Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow, killed in a 1934 ambush in Louisiana), Jesse James (shot by Robert Ford in 1882), Billy the Kid (killed by Pat Garrett), D.B. Cooper (the only unsolved hijacking in U.S. history), Ted Kaczynski (the Unabomber).
The show frequently tests the legal definitions and classifications of crimes:
Fingerprints (4 clues), The show tests the history of fingerprinting as a law enforcement tool. Scotland Yard adopted fingerprinting in 1901. The FBI maintains the world's largest fingerprint database. No two people have ever been found to have identical fingerprints (including identical twins). Sir Francis Galton published the first detailed study of fingerprints in 1892.
Other law enforcement facts: The FBI was founded in 1908 (originally the Bureau of Investigation). J. Edgar Hoover directed it from 1924 to 1972. Interpol (International Criminal Police Organization) is headquartered in Lyon, France. Scotland Yard is the headquarters of London's Metropolitan Police, named for a street where the original building stood.
Watch out: Crime clues tend to be more accessible than other Law sub-domains, but the show occasionally reaches for obscure criminals or punishment terms. Diplomatic immunity (3 clues, 33.3% correct) is a major stumper in this area, contestants know the concept from movies but struggle to produce the exact term. The intersection of crime and international law (extradition, diplomatic immunity, war crimes tribunals) is a reliable source of difficulty.
36 FJ clues
Law has appeared 36 times in Final Jeopardy, making it one of the more frequently tested FJ topics. The distribution of those 36 clues reveals a striking pattern: Supreme Court biography dominates Final Jeopardy to an overwhelming degree, accounting for roughly 20 of the 36 appearances. If you're preparing for a Law FJ, prepare for the Supreme Court.
The Chief Justices of the United States are the single most productive source of Law FJ clues:
The complete list of Chief Justices (essential knowledge): John Jay (1789), John Rutledge (1795), Oliver Ellsworth (1796), John Marshall (1801), Roger B. Taney (1836), Salmon P. Chase (1864), Morrison Waite (1874), Melville Fuller (1888), Edward Douglass White (1910), William Howard Taft (1921), Charles Evans Hughes (1930), Harlan Fiske Stone (1941), Fred Vinson (1946), Earl Warren (1953), Warren Burger (1969), William Rehnquist (1986), John Roberts (2005).
After Chief Justices, individual Associate Justices are the next most common FJ subject:
The connection between presidents and their Supreme Court appointments is a reliable FJ angle:
Cases appear less frequently in FJ than justices, but when they do, they demand specific knowledge:
| Answer | Accuracy | What trips contestants up |
|---|---|---|
| Antonin Scalia | 0% (0/4) | Modern justice, contestants know his philosophy but can't recall the name under pressure |
| William O. Douglas | 0% (0/3) | Longest-serving justice, obscured by more famous names |
| Diplomatic immunity | 33% (1/3) | Know it from movies, can't produce the legal term |
| Marbury v. Madison | 50% (regular play) | Connecting "judicial review" to the case name and details |
| Pro bono | 75% (3/4) | Latin phrase recall, contestants paraphrase instead |
| Nolo contendere | 83% (5/6) | Full Latin phrase is hard to recall precisely |
| Libel | 87.5% (7/8) | Confused with slander, which is written, which is spoken? |
| Arson | 87.5% (7/8) | Occasionally missed when clued indirectly |
| Thurgood Marshall | 87.5% (7/8) | Pre-Court career clues are harder than "first Black justice" |
| Warren Burger (FJ) | 0% (0/3) | "Longest-serving 20th-century Chief Justice" total blind spot |
| "Verdict" etymology (FJ) | 0% (0/3) | From Latin "veredictum" (truly said), obscure etymology |
| "Copyright" first US law (FJ) | 0% (0/3) | First US copyright law was 1790, niche legal history |
Pillar 1: Supreme Court Mastery. Memorize the 17 Chief Justices in order with their start years. For each, know their most famous decision or contribution. Then learn the "signature facts" for the major Associate Justices: first woman (O'Connor, 1981), first Black justice (Marshall, 1967), first Jewish justice (Brandeis, 1916), longest-serving (Douglas, 36 years), and the major modern justices (Scalia, Thomas, Ginsburg, Souter). Pay special attention to Scalia and Douglas, their 0% accuracy rates mean that knowing them gives you an edge no other contestant will have.
Pillar 2: Landmark Cases. Know the "big ten" cases: Marbury v. Madison (1803, judicial review), Dred Scott (1857, citizenship), Plessy v. Ferguson (1896, separate but equal), Brown v. Board (1954, desegregation), Miranda v. Arizona (1966, right to remain silent), Roe v. Wade (1973, abortion), Furman v. Georgia (1972, death penalty halt), Gregg v. Georgia (1976, death penalty resumed), Bush v. Gore (2000, election), and Citizens United (2010, corporate speech). For each, know the year, the holding, and the Chief Justice who presided.
Pillar 3: Latin Legal Vocabulary. Drill these as flashcards: habeas corpus (produce the body), nolo contendere (I will not contest), pro bono (for the public good), subpoena (under penalty), amicus curiae (friend of the court), res judicata (a matter judged), stare decisis (stand by decisions), voir dire (jury selection), corpus delicti (body of the crime), mens rea (guilty mind), actus reus (guilty act). The Latin terms appear with reliable frequency, and since accuracy is generally high, mastering them ensures you won't be the contestant who misses an otherwise-easy clue.
Final Jeopardy preparation: If the FJ category is anything related to Law, the Supreme Court, or the Constitution, your first instinct should be to think about justices. Twenty of 36 Law FJ clues are about Supreme Court biography. If the clue mentions a state, think about which justice came from there. If it mentions a president, think about whom that president appointed. If it mentions a date range, think about which Chief Justice served during that era. The biographical details of the justices, where they went to law school, what they did before the Court, what cases they're known for, who appointed them, are the core curriculum for Law Final Jeopardy.
Memorize these and recognize 14.4% of all Law clues.
| # | Answer | Count | Sample Clue |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Thurgood Marshall | 14 | Clarence Thomas replaced this Supreme Court justice who retired in 1991 |
| 2 | William Howard Taft | 13 | In 1921 he replaced fellow heavyweight Edward D. White, whom he had appointed Chief Justice in 1910 |
| 3 | Sandra Day O'Connor | 12 | She married John in 1952, 29 years before Reagan appointed her to the Supreme Court |
| 4 | John Jay | 11 | He was New York's first chief justice before he became the first chief justice of the U.S. |
| 5 | Earl Warren | 10 | Rabbit breeding place |
| 6 | Antonin Scalia | 9 | This late justice said personally he'd jail "weirdos" who burn the flag, but sided with a 1989 decision that it's free speech |
| 7 | manslaughter | 8 | Jack McCoy offers you a deal for pleading guilty to Man 1; Man is short for this |
| 8 | Harvard | 7 | Alan Dershowitz is the Felix Frankfurter Professor of Law at this Cambridge, Mass. university |
| 9 | William Rehnquist | 7 | Chief Justice John Roberts served as a law clerk for this man, his predecessor |
| 10 | Clarence Thomas | 7 | He served as assistant attorney general of Missouri under John C. Danforth from 1974 to 1977 |
| 11 | Pro Bono | 6 | Literally "for the good", it refers to a case taken by an attorney free of charge |
| 12 | Nolo Contendere | 6 | This phrase isn't necessarily an admission of guilt; it simply means "I do not contest it" |
| 13 | libel | 6 | Spoken defamation of another is slander; this is written defamation |
| 14 | arson | 6 | In the 2nd degree, it's generally the burning of buildings other than dwellings |
| 15 | Ronald Reagan | 6 | The first female U.S. Supreme Court justice, Sandra Day O'Connor, was appointed by this president |
| 16 | Richard Nixon | 6 | William Rehnquist (as associate justice) |
| 17 | Louis Brandeis | 6 | Born to immigrant parents, in 1916 he was the 1st Supreme Court nominee to undergo public Senate confirmation hearings |
| 18 | a tort | 6 | From the Latin for "twist", it's a civil wrong or injury that doesn't involve a contract |
| 19 | a jury | 6 | These can be grand, petit or hung |
| 20 | Ruth Bader Ginsburg | 5 | Tied for first in her Columbia law class in 1959 |
| 21 | Roe v. Wade | 5 | ( Retired Justice Sandra Day O'Connor gives the clue.) In Planned Parenthood v. Casey, an opinion I wrote with 2 other justices applied stare decisis,... |
| 22 | murder | 5 | It's the crime in Dostoyevsky's "Crime and Punishment" |
| 23 | habeas corpus | 5 | "Latin, meaning 'you have the body"' |
| 24 | a subpoena | 5 | While a summons asks nicely, this demands your appearance in court |
| 25 | a will | 5 | It's the document that goes through probate |
| 26 | John Dillinger | 5 | On March 3, 1934 this Public Enemy escaped from Lake County Jail in Crown Point, Ind., allegedly using a wooden gun |
| 27 | Ernesto Miranda | 5 | Earl Warren ruled on this man's case that a suspect must be warned prior to questioning that he can stay silent |
| 28 | treason | 4 | Richard III was killed at Bosworth Field shouting, this crime! This crime! |
| 29 | probate | 4 | Court hearing to determine if the will will or the will won't be declared bona fide |
| 30 | Oliver Wendell Holmes | 4 | "The Great Dissenter", he was son & namesake of poet who wrote "Old Ironsides" |
| 31 | moot court | 4 | Truly law practice, as it's used in law schools, this fictitious "court" is held to argue hypothetical appellate cases |
| 32 | John Marshall | 4 | This man was chief justice in 1803 when the Supreme Court decided the landmark case Marbury v. Madison |
| 33 | fingerprints | 4 | Hanged in 1912, Thomas Jennings was the USA's first criminal convicted using this evidence unique to each of us |
| 34 | discovery | 4 | Also the "Deadliest Catch" TV channel: "procedures used to obtain disclosure of evidence before trial" |
| 35 | chattel | 4 | The word "cattle" evolved from this similar-sounding word that now means all movable personal property |
| 36 | Bush v. Gore | 4 | It was the legal name of the December 2000 Supreme Court case to decide who would become president |
| 37 | a warrant | 4 | It's an order for the arrest of a person issued by a judge |
| 38 | Felix Frankfurter | 4 | Hot-dogged it as a Harvard law prof from 1914 to 1939 |
| 39 | an arraignment | 4 | Court session when a prisoner hears charges against him & enters plea |
| 40 | William O. Douglas | 3 | He's seen here near the beginning&near the endof his time on the Court—the longest of any justice in history |
| 41 | venue | 3 | In order to get a more objective trial, ask for a "change of" this to seek to have a case heard in a new jurisdiction |
| 42 | Thomas Jefferson | 3 | The man who shot Alexander Hamilton in a duel was vice president under this man |
| 43 | the Bar | 3 | This association is "an organization of members of the legal profession", & it's time for you to pass it |
| 44 | Separate but equal | 3 | 3-word principle established in 1896; overturned in Brown V. Board of Education of Topeka |
| 45 | Plaintiff | 3 | Also called the complainant, it's the person bringing a civil suit |
| 46 | perjury | 3 | Lying under oath |
| 47 | misdemeanors | 3 | Under federal law nearly all offenses other than felonies are classified as these |
| 48 | Marbury v. Madison | 3 | This battle of M's in John Marshall's Supreme Court was the first time an act of Congress was declared unconstitutional |
| 49 | Louisiana | 3 | Across this state, from Westwego to Thibodaux, you cannot legally gargle in public |
| 50 | John Paul Stevens | 3 | JPS |
These appear 8+ times. Memorize these first.
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