Glossary of terms
Decision
The outcome reached by a court or tribunal after hearing a case. Often used interchangeably with 'judgment', though 'decision' is more commonly used for tribunal cases.
Defamation
When someone publishes a false statement that damages another person's reputation. This includes libel (written or published defamation) and slander (spoken defamation). Defamation cases are civil matters, not criminal.
Defendant
The person or organisation defending against a claim or accusation in court. In civil cases, this is the party being sued. In criminal cases, this is the person accused of a crime.
Division
A specialist section within a court that handles particular types of cases. For example, the High Court has three divisions: King's Bench Division (general civil claims), Chancery Division (business and property), and Family Division (family matters). Each division has expertise in its area of law.