[[Miranda Warning]] **Misdemeanor** A crime that can be punished by up to 1 year in jail. (See also felony.) **Misfeasance** Improper performance of an act that may have been lawfully done. (Compare malfeasance, nonfeasance.) **Mistrial** A trial that has been ended and declared void (of no legal effect) due to prejudicial error in the proceedings or other extraordinary circumstances. **Modification** A change or alteration, like modification of a sentence (where the terms of punishment for a defendant are changed) or of a probation order (where a new probation order is issued changing the terms of the original order). **Money Judgment** A specific amount of money awarded by the court to a person as payment for damages (losses or injuries) suffered. **Moot** A point or question related to a legal case that usually has no practical importance or relevance to the case. A moot point is a point that can't be resolved by the judge, is not disputed by either side, or is resolved out of court. **Motion** An oral or written request that a party makes to the court for a ruling or an order on a particular point. A "motion to reduce bail" asks the court to lower the amount of bail needed to release the defendant from custody and guarantee that he or she will appear in court when required. A "motion to release on own recognizance (OR)" asks the court to let a defendant go without paying bail if the defendant agrees to appear when the court tells him or her to. A "motion to set" asks the judge to set a date for a future trial. A "motion to quash" asks the court to make something void or ineffective, such as to quash a subpoena. **Motion to Quash Service of Summons** A legal response that a tenant can file in an unlawful detainer lawsuit if the tenant believes that the landlord did not properly serve the summons and complaint. **Multistate Employer** An organization that hires and employs people in 2 or more states. A multistate employer does business in each state, and its employees must pay taxes in the state where they work. **Multistate Financial Institution Data Match (MSFIDM)** Process that matches the financial accounts in more than 1 state with parents that owe child support. States submit data on parents that owe support to the Office of Child Support Enforcement (OCSE). A state can then put a lien on and take all or part of an account. **Municipal Court** Before the Trial Court Unification Act of 1998, there were municipal courts in judicial districts that had more than 40,000 people. Municipal courts heard these kinds of cases: (1) cases asking for less than $25,000; (2) all adult criminal misdemeanors with penalties of no more than 1 year in county jail or a fine of $2,500; and (3) preliminary hearings in felony cases. Now, all these cases are heard in superior court. **Murder** The unlawful killing of a person by another with premeditated malice, either expressed (said) or implied (suggested). (See also homicide; compare with manslaughter.) **Misdemeanor** A crime that can be punished by up to 1 year in jail. (See also felony.) **Misdemeanor** A crime that can be punished by up to 1 year in jail. (See also felony.)