Habitable: A rental unit that is fit for human beings to live in. A rental unit that substantially complies with building and safety code standards that materially affect tenants' health and safety is said to be "habitable." See uninhabitable and implied warranty of habitability.
Hearing: A formal court proceeding with the judge and opposing sides present, but no jury.
Hearing in a Courtroom
Hearsay: Statements by a witness who did not see or hear the incident in question but heard about it from someone else. Hearsay usually cannot be used as evidence in court. (However, there are some important exceptions in the Evidence Code.)
Glossary I
Implied warranty of habitability: A legal rule that requires landlords to maintain their rental units in a condition fit for human beings to live in. A rental unit must substantially comply with building and housing code standards that materially affect tenants' health and safety.
Income withholding: When automatic deductions are made from wages or income to pay a debt, like child support. Income withholding is often part of a child support order. It can be voluntary or involuntary. (See also direct income withholding, wage withholding.)
Incurable insanity: An unsoundness of mind or lack of understanding that is not likely to be changed or corrected.
Infraction: A minor violation of a law, contract, or right that is not a misdemeanor or a felony and can't be punished by time in prison. (Compare felony, misdemeanor.)
Injunction: A court order that says a defendant can't perform, or must perform, a specific act. (Compare enjoin, restraining order.)
In limine: Latin for "at the beginning" or "at the threshold," such as a motion in limine at the beginning of trial to ask that certain evidence be excluded.
In propria persona (in pro per): When a person represents himself or herself without a lawyer. This comes from the Latin for "in one's own proper person." (See also "pro per," "pro se.")
Interpreter: A person who is certified as being able to translate, orally or in writing, spoken or sign language into the common language of the court.
Installment Payments: Weekly, monthly, or other periodic payments on a debt.
Interest: An amount added to certain kinds of debts when payment of the debt is delayed.
Interrogatories: Written questions sent by 1 side in a lawsuit to an opposing side as part of pretrial discovery in civil cases. The side that receives the interrogatories must answer them in writing under oath. (See also discovery.)
Irreconcilable differences: Such differences as being partly or totally unlike in nature which make it impossible to restore a relationship to friendship or harmony.
Issue: (1) The disputed point between parties in a lawsuit; (2) to send out officially, as when a court issues an order.
