General (not jurisdiction-specific)

A court’s acceptance of a fact as true without formal proof because it is not subject to reasonable dispute — it is generally known within the trial court’s territorial jurisdiction, or can be accurately and readily determined from sources whose accuracy cannot reasonably be questioned (Fed. R. Evid. 201(b)).

Asking a person, a party, the clerk or the court to do something. In discovery, requests for production and requests for admission are served on another party (Fed. R. Civ. P. 34, 36). In court, a request for an order is a motion and must be in writing (unless made at a hearing or trial), state the grounds with particularity and state the relief sought (Fed. R. Civ. P. 7(b)(1)), and many courts use “request” in the names of filings such as a request for judicial notice. In everyday usage a request asks rather than insists; in court, the governing rule matters more than the label.

An assertion of a right or a claim, calling on another person to do something. In court, a complaint must include a demand for the relief sought (Fed. R. Civ. P. 8(a)(3)); a party may demand a jury trial by serving a written demand and filing it (Fed. R. Civ. P. 38(b)); and a written demand must be served on every party (Fed. R. Civ. P. 5(a)(1)(E)). Outside court, a demand letter asks for payment or performance before a lawsuit, and some claims or statutes require a demand before suit is filed. Under UCC § 3-108(a), a promise or order is payable on demand if it says it is payable on demand or at sight, otherwise indicates it is payable at the will of the holder, or states no time of payment.

Permitted, authorized or not forbidden by law. Statutes use the word in many settings, such as “lawfully admitted for permanent residence” in immigration law (8 U.S.C. § 1101(a)(20)), the status of a lawful permanent resident, or a court’s power to punish disobedience of its “lawful” orders (18 U.S.C. § 401(3)). We have not found a court decision holding that a distinction between “lawful” and “legal” places a person outside the reach of statutes, licenses or court orders.

Relating to the law, or permitted by law. “Legal” also distinguishes law from equity: legal remedies, such as money damages, historically came from courts of law, while equitable remedies, such as injunctions, came from courts of equity. Some older law dictionaries, such as Black’s (1910), drew a fine distinction between “legal” (the form of law) and “lawful” (the substance of law), but in modern usage the two words are generally treated as interchangeable: authorized or not forbidden by law.

A person who has a duty to help the court administer justice, including judges, clerks, bailiffs, court reporters and attorneys. The ABA Model Rules describe a lawyer as “an officer of the legal system” (Preamble, para. 1). Lawyers owe the court duties of candor, such as not knowingly making a false statement of fact or law to a tribunal (Model Rule 3.3).

A person who is not a member of the armed forces. In everyday use, the word sometimes also distinguishes members of the public from police officers. Whether a law applies to civilians or to military members depends on the statute; for example, the Uniform Code of Military Justice (10 U.S.C. ch. 47) applies to the persons listed in 10 U.S.C. § 802.

Officially made part of a court’s record. In federal court, a paper not filed electronically is filed by delivering it to the clerk, or to a judge who agrees to accept it and then notes the date and sends it to the clerk (Fed. R. Civ. P. 5(d)(2)). The clerk must not refuse to file a paper solely because it is not in the form required by the rules or a local rule (Fed. R. Civ. P. 5(d)(4)). The filing date matters because deadlines and limitations periods often turn on it. For a prisoner without a lawyer, a notice of appeal is treated as filed when it is delivered to prison officials for mailing (Houston v. Lack, 487 U.S. 266 (1988); see FRAP 4(c)).

Has two court meanings. First, a “received” stamp shows the date the clerk took delivery of a paper, which is not always the same as filing it: some papers are received or lodged but not filed, for example a complaint waiting for a fee or a fee-waiver ruling, a proposed order or a document submitted for possible sealing. Practices differ, so check the local rules and the docket to confirm whether and when a paper was filed. Second, at a hearing or trial, an exhibit “received in evidence” has been admitted.

A court session, used in Florida circuit courts, at which the judge calls the cases set for an upcoming trial period to find out whether each one is ready for trial, has settled or needs a continuance. Other courts hold similar sessions, often called a calendar call. Attendance by counsel and unrepresented parties is usually mandatory, and missing it can lead to dismissal or other sanctions. The court may announce at docket sounding when each case will be tried. The court’s trial order or local practice explains what is required.