1. In the modern Western world, it is one of the two major legal systems; the other is common law. Taken from Roman law, it is used in continental Europe, their former colonies, Isle of Man, Latin America, Scotland, state of Louisiana in the US federation, and in Canada’s Quebec province. In this system, the law is a highly structured and rigid code of rules observed to the letter. An expert judge decides cases without the help of jury and without any reference to precedent. In this system, every defendant in a criminal trial is presumed guilty until proven innocent. Under common law, practiced in most English-speaking countries, a person is presumed innocent until proven guilty. 2. As Private law that contrasts to administrative law, criminal law, ecclesiastical law, and military law, and deals with relationships among individuals.

The examination before a competent tribunal, according to the law of the land, of the facts or law put in issue in a cause, for the purpose of determining such issue. A trial is the judicial examination of the Issues between the parties, whether they be issues of law or of fact. Code N. Y.

Any property that is not owned by a private individual or a company. It belongs to the public at large and not to any one person. It covers premises and facilities that are owned by the government or a community.

The rights given to the person or persons who have a right to own the property through purchase or bequest. These are basic rights in any society though absolute right for a property is rare in any society.

Known in some counrires as crown land. This is land that belongs to the government who owns the title to the land. This land is not owned by a company or individual and the government decides its use. It can sell it to a company for development or it can develop it itself. It is often vacant land and is left vacant unless the governemrnt has a good reason to sell it.