Superior Court >Civil Department >Glossary Of Common Terms Glossary of Common Terms Harassment A series of acts over any period of time that is directed at a specific person; would cause a reasonable person to be seriously alarmed, annoyed or harassed and in fact seriously alarms, annoys or harasses the person and serves no legitimate purpose.

• Injunction Against Harassment (IAH): A court order directing a person to stop harassing, annoying or alarming another person. Injunctions may be used for disputes against neighbors, strangers and people who are or were dating. The injunction against harassment differs from the order of protection in that exclusive use of the home cannot be ordered and the police are not mandated to serve the injunction.
• Injunction Against Workplace Harassment (IAWH): A court order sought by an employer for relief on behalf of all employees at the workplace, anyone who enters the employer’s property and anyone who is performing official work duties. This allows the inclusion of a number of people under the protective umbrella of this injunction; the “personal” injunction against harassment is usually between two people. In this instance, harassment is defined as a single threat or act of physical harm or damage or a series of acts over a period of time that would cause a reasonable person to be seriously alarmed or annoyed.

Harassment Petition The document filed by a party asking for an injunction against any act of harassment by another party, not applicable if a previous or current family relationship exists. Hearing A procedure before a judge sitting without a jury during which evidence may be presented and witnesses heard to determine an issue and come to a decision generally on a less formal basis than in a trial.

• Evidentiary Hearing: The presentation of facts and evidence to the court to decide an issue.
• Sentencing Hearing: A hearing to formally pronounce sentence upon a defendant.
• Supersedeas Bond: A hearing to formally pronounce sentence upon a defendant.
• Aggravation Hearing: A hearing held prior to sentencing to make a finding of aggravating or negative circumstances that would extend the length or increase the terms of a defendant’s sentence.
• Mitigation Hearing: A hearing held prior to sentencing to make a finding of mitigating or positive circumstances that would shorten the length or decrease the terms of a defendant’s sentence.
• Trial: The formal presentation of facts and evidence to a court or jury in order to reach a legal decision.
• Trial de Novo: A new trial held upon appeal from a non-record court or from appeal of an arbitration award.
• Petit (Trial) Jury: The group of people selected to decide the facts and render a verdict in a civil or criminal trial.

Hearsay Testimony given by a witness who relates not what he or she knows personally but what others have said. Heirs Persons, including the surviving spouse and the state, who are entitled under the statutes of intestate succession to the property of a decedent. return to top