We have been using the term 'mutation' pretty loosely up to this point in the course...now we need to define it more precisely: mutation-- a change in the genetic material (ie. DNA).
Stay of proceedings. A stay of proceedings is a ruling by the court in civil and criminal procedure, halting further legal process in a trial or other legal proceeding. The court can subsequently lift the stay and resume proceedings based on events taking place after the stay is ordered.
Automatic Stay. When you file for bankruptcy, your case creates an automatic stay of collection proceedings against you. This means your creditors must cease their collection efforts, and they cannot begin again until the case is resolved. This stay even applies to foreclosure proceedings, so your house can be saved.