Magistrate: in the federal court system, this is a person who is appointed to serve as a representative of the court and is often given many responsibilities that would otherwise be performed by the federal judge

Malfeasance: the doing of an act in an improper, wrongful, or unlawful manner

Malice: a spiteful state of mind

Malpractice: a failure of a professional to act in accordance with the acceptable course of conduct, negligence of a member of a profession in a professional capacity

Maritime Law: the body of law that governs navigation and other activity in navigable waters

Mens Rea: a guilty mind

Misfeasance: the improper performance of a required act

Mistrial: an action taken by a court which terminates a trial in progress

Mitigation of Damages: a duty owed by the party who sustained injury to his person or property to minimize the loss by acting in a reasonably prudent manner

Money Judgment: a judgment granting to one party the right to receive money from another party

Moot Case: a case that is fictional as it is based upon a fact or right which is not recognizable or which has already been resolved

Motion: a written or oral request to the court for an order to allow or prohibit some item or to ask the court to take a particular action with regard to the litigation

Motion in Limine: a request made by a party asking the court to prohibit the discussion or other presentation of a particular matter to the jury

Municipal Court: a court that hears and determines matters concerning its own laws and other matters within its jurisdiction as provided by law