Penalties or other means of enforcement used to provide incentives for obedience with the law, or with rules or regulations. Criminal sanctions take the form of serious punishment, such as imprisonment or severe fines, whilst civil sanctions are usually monetary fines levied against a party to court proceedings or his/her legal representative for violating rules of procedure, or for abusing the judicial process.

Termination of employment against the will of an employee; the end of an action or claim before a judgment has been delivered, often during the very early stages.

A decision of a court regarding the rights and liabilities of the parties to legal proceedings. Judgments generally provide the court’s explanation as to why it has chosen to make a particular decision.