A type of original jurisdiction petition; an order of a superior court requiring a public body, inferior court, or public official to perform a required duty.

An order issued by the Intermediate Court or the Supreme Court entering the decision or opinion as final.

A court must hear and respond to those appeals that are "mandatory" under the state's constitution or by statute.

Unless otherwise provided by order, a case is mature for consideration by the Intermediate Court or the Supreme Court when the deadline for all briefs to be filed has passed.

A series of short orders in one document. For example, the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals issues most of its workers' compensation decisions by memorandum order.

Criminal intent.

Incorporation of a lesser crime into a greater crime.

The less serious of two categories to which criminal offenses are assigned (compare "felony").

A trial that has been terminated and declared void due to prejudicial error in the proceedings or other extraordinary circumstances.

Circumstances suggesting that a lesser sentence is appropriate.

Do not justify or excuse an offense, but may be considered as reasons for reducing the degree of blame.

Adjective: No longer presenting a controversy capable of adjudication because the issue has ceased to exist and is unlikely to recur.

Oral or written request before, during, or after a trial on which a court issues a ruling or order.

The absence of ordinary care.

Latin phrase meaning "I will not contest it." A plea in a criminal case which has a similar legal effect as pleading guilty. A defendant may plead nolo contendere only with the consent of the court.

The mandatory notice filed to inform the Court and the other parties that a petitioner intends to docket and perfect an appeal, in the form prescribed by these rules.

A written or oral pledge to keep a promise to speak the truth.

A statement by an attorney opposing a specific testimony or admission of evidence.

Outline of anticipated proof presented to the jury by the attorneys at the trial's beginning.

The written decision of a court. The West Virginia Constitution requires that Supreme Court opinions "shall be concisely stated in writing and preserved with the record; and it shall...prepare a syllabus of the points adjudicated in each case in which an opinion is written and in which a majority of the justices concurred, which shall be prefixed to the published report of the case." W.Va. Const., Article 8, Section 4.