In a criminal court case, the defendant is the person who goes on trial for potentially committing a felony a or misdemeanor.
claims that a suspect has committed a felony or misdemeanor.
has committed a tort that has wrongly harmed someone else.
was wrongly harmed by someone who committed a tort.

Goes on trial for potentially committing a felony or a misdemeanor

Explanation:

The defendant in a criminal court case is the person who is being accused of committing a crime. The person going against the defendant would be the victim or witness.

I hope this helps you better understand what goes on in court. Please let me know if you need any more help. Have a great morning! :]