Law Library Legal Dictionary – J

Legal Definitions – J

J Visa – A visa that promotes the exchange of persons, knowledge and skills in the fields of education, arts, and sciences. It is popular with international students, especially medical students.

Joinder of Parties – The joining together of multiple parties who have the same rights or against whom rights are claimed as co-plaintiffs or co-defendants into one lawsuit to avoid having multiple lawsuits over the same issue, but with different plaintiffs or defendants for each lawsuit.

Joint Custody – A custody arrangement where two separated or divorced parents share parental duties and time with their child. The parents may share joint legal custody and/or joint physical custody.

Joint Tenancy – A tenancy where two or more persons own undivided property shares of real estate and enjoy the right of survivorship. The right of survivorship entitles joint tenants to automatically inherit another joint tenant’s interest when that joint tenant dies.

Joint Venture – A business relationship between two or more people or businesses (such as a corporation) where they combine their efforts, ideas, or property for a single project or related series of transactions.

Judicial Lien – A lien obtained by judgment, levy, sequestration or other legal or equitable process or proceeding. This type of lien is commonly associated with creditors suing debtors to obtain payment of the debt that the debtor owes to the creditor.

Judicial Misconduct – A judge’s violation of judicial ethics or the judge’s obligation of impartial conduct.

Juvenile Delinquency – Conduct by minors that is disruptive, destructive, or illegal. It usually consists of less serious crimes and juvenile misdemeanors.

Juvenile Justice System – A specialized criminal justice system that is only available to criminal defendants under the age of majority. Although similar to the adult criminal justice system, this justice system does have significant modifications that reflect the relative youth of the offenders, such as the possibility of being detained in an alternative placement facility like a group home instead of a correctional facility while awaiting trial. See also: Juvenile vs. Adult Criminal System, Juvenile Waiver, Sentencing Options for Juvenile Crime