Lawrence v. Texas

Glossary

• amicus briefs briefs by friends of the court, submitted by interest groups or others who are notparties to a case but have special knowledge about or a special interest in the case
• compelling state interest an interest of public concern that is so important as to justify limiting fundamentalrights
• fundamental rights rights that are enumerated in the Bill of Rights or are inherent in the national concept of liberty;government cannot interfere with the exercise of fundamental rights without demonstrating that the regulation serves a compelling state interest
• plea of nolo contendere plea of no contest—no admission of guilt
• rational-basis test a test, employed in determining the constitutionality of most legislation, that asks if thelegislation at issue is reasonably related to a legitimate state interest, such as public safety or the provision of services
• stare decisis the principle holding that courts should follow precedent in the interest of consistencyand certainty in the law
• substantive due process the legal theory that rights implicit in the concept of liberty are fundamental and protectedunder the due process clause of the Constitution even if they are not explicitly mentioned in the Constitution
• trial de novo a form of appeal in which the appeals court holds a trial as if no other trial had beenheld