criminal law and procedure

An accusation is informally stating that a person has committed an illegal or immoral act.

An accusatory instrument, similar to a criminal complaint, is a document which formally accuses a defendant of a criminal offense. Generally, this document must be signed by a party who has knowledge that the alleged criminal conduct took place. Failure to properly give the potential defendant an accusatory instrument can result in the case’s dismissal. 

• criminal law and procedure

A person who has been arrested for or formally charged with a crime is referred to as "the accused." It is another name for the defendant in a criminal case.

Acknowledgment refers to a formal declaration before an official that one has executed a particular legal document. Some common usages of the term “acknowledgment” in a legal sense include: 

Acquit means to set free, release or discharge as from an obligation, burden, or accusation.

An act in the legal sense refers to either a voluntary bodily movement or a term for a body of law/proposed law. 

An act of God refers to a severe, unanticipated natural event for which no human is responsible. Despite its facial religious connections, the phrase “act of God” is frequently used in otherwise secular statutory and case law.

An action refers to a judicial proceeding. If a party brings a civil or criminal case against you, an action has been brought against you. The party bringing the action is the plaintiff /prosecution respectively. 

A claim is actionable if there exist sufficient circumstances to meet the requirements of a cause of action.

Actual cause is a necessary element for both liability in civil cases and a guilty verdict under much of criminal law.