Glossary: U

Ultra Vires.  [Latin].  "Beyond the powers."  Beyond the scope of set authority. 

Unprivileged Entry.  Entering a structure without right or permission. 

U.S. Attorneys.  Government officers responsible for prosecuting crimes that violate the laws of the United States who appointed by the president and assigned to federal District Court jurisdictions. see also U.S. Attorneys Website

U.S. Circuit Court of Appeal.  A system of thirteen federal appeals courts that hear cases coming up from the federal district courts; appeals from these courts are to the U.S. Supreme Court.  See also U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit Website 

United States Code.  A comprehensive compilation of federal laws and statutes arranged by subject.  Search or browse the United States Code on the Legal Information Institute site.

U.S. Court of Appeals.  A panel of federal judges that hears appeals from the U.S. District Courts.

U.S. District Courts.  The trial courts on the federal level for both criminal and civil cases.  See also U.S. District Courts on the U.S. Courts site

U.S. Magistrates.  Judges who fulfill the pretrial judicial obligations of the federal court system. 

U.S. Sentencing Commission. Body that makes sentencing regulations for all federal crimes.  See also U.S. Sentencing Commission Website

U.S. Supreme Court.  The court of last resort on the federal level; the highest court in the United States.  See also U.S. Supreme Court Website

United States v. Ash [413 U.S. 300 (1973)].  There is no right to counsel at a photographic lineup, even after indictment.

United States v. Brignoni-Ponce.  [422 U.S. 873 (1975)].  "The Fourth Amendment...forbids stopping persons for questioning about their citizenship on less than a reasonable suspicion that they may be aliens."  

United States v. Chadwick. [433 U.S. 1 (1977)].  Historical case that prohibited the search of closed containers within automobiles; overturned by California v. Acevedo.

United States v. Dunnigan.  [507 U.S. 87 (1993)]. "An enhanced sentence for the willful presentation of false testimony does not undermine the right to testify."

United States v. Leon.  [468 U.S. 897 (1984)].   Provides a good faith exception to the exclusionary rule for police when a warrant is later declared invalid because of judicial error. 

United States v. Martinez-Fuerte. [428 U.S. 543 (1976)].  Border checkpoint searches without reasonable suspicion are constitutional.

United States v. Sokolow. [490 U.S. 1 (1989)].  "The fact that the agents believed that respondent's behavior was consistent with one of the DEA's "drug courier profiles" does not alter this analysis, because the factors in question have evidentiary significance regardless of whether they are set forth in a profile." 

United States v. Wade. [388 U.S. 218 (1967)].  "The post-indictment lineup (unlike such preparatory steps as analyzing fingerprints and blood samples) was a critical prosecutive stage at which respondent was entitled to the aid of counsel."

Unsecured Bond.  Release based on the defendant's promise to pay the court a specified amount if he or she fails to appear.

Urban Cohort.  Military units of the Roman Empire used to maintain order in cities.

Utmost Resistance Standard.  In rape law, the requirement that  victims must use all the physical strength they possess in order to prevent penetration.  Compare with Reasonable Resistance Standard.

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