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26 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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appeal |
the request that a court with appellate jurisdiction review the judgement, decision, or order of a lower court and set it aside. |
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appellate jurisdiction |
the lawful authority of a court to review a decision may by a lower court. |
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baliff |
the court officer whose duties are to keep order in the courtroom and to maintain physical custody of the jury. |
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change of venue |
the movement of a trial or lawsuit from one jurisdiction to another or from one location to another within the same jurisdiction. A change in venue may be made in a criminal case to ensure that the defendant receives a fair trial . |
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community court |
a low-level court that focuses on quality-of-life crimes that erode a neighborhood's morale. Community courts emphasize problem solving rather than punishment and build on restorative principles like community service and restitution. |
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court of last resort |
the court authorized by law to hear the final appeal on a matter. |
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courtroom work group |
the professional courtroom actors, including judges, prosecuting attorneys, defense attorneys, public defenders, and others who earn a living serving the court. |
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defense counsel |
a licensed trial lawyer hired or appointed to conduct the legal defense of a person accused of a crime and to represent him or her before a court of law. |
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dispute-resolution center |
an informal hearing place designed to mediate interpersonal disputes without resorting to the more formal arrangements of a criminal trial court. |
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exculpatory evidence |
any information having a tendency to clear a person of guilt or blame. |
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expert witness |
a person who has special knowledge and skills recognized by the court as relevant to the determination of guilt or innocence . Unlike lay witnesses, expert witnesses may express opinions or draw conclusions in their testimony, |
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federal court system |
the three-tiered structure of federal courts, comprising US district courts, US courts of appeals, and the US Supreme Court. |
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judge |
an elected or appointed public official who presides over a court of law and who is authorized to hear and sometimes to decide cases and to conduct trials. |
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judicial review |
the power of a court to review actions and decision made by other agencies of government. |
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jurisdiction |
the territory, subject matter, or people over which a court or other justice agency may exercise lawful authority as determined by statute or constitution. |
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juror |
a member of a trial or grand jury who has been selected for jury duty and is required to serve as an arbiter of the facts in a court of law. Jurors are expected to render verdicts of "guilty" or "not guilty" as to the charges brought against the accused. |
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lay witness |
an eyewitness, character witness, or other person called on to testify who is not considered an expert. Lay witnesses must testify to facts only and may not draw conclusions or express opinion. |
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original jurisdiction |
the lawful authority of a court ot hear or to act on a case from its beginning and to pass judgement on the law and the facts,. The authority may be over a specific geographic area or over particular types of cases. |
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prosecutor |
an attorney whose official duty is to conduct criminal proceedings on behalf of the state or people against those accused of having committed criminal offenses. |
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prosecutorial discretion |
the decision making power of prosecuters, based on the wide range of choices available to them, in the handling of criminal defendants, the scheduling of cases for trial, the acceptance of negotiated pleas, and so on. The most important form of prosecutorial discretion lies in the power to charge,or not charge, a person with an offense. |
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public defender |
an attorney employed by the government agency or sub-agency, for the purpose of providing defense services to indigents, or an attorney who has volunteered such service. |
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state court system |
a state judicial structure. Most states have at least three court levels : trial courts, appellate courts, and a state supreme court. |
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subpoena |
a written order by a judicial officer or grand jury requiring an individual to appear in court and to give testimony or to bring material to be used as evidence. Some subpoenas mandate that books, papers, and other items be surrendered to the court. |
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trial de novo |
literally, "new trial." THe term is applied to cases that are retried on appeal, as opposed to those that are simply reviewed on the record. |
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victims' assistance program |
an organized program that offers services to victims of crime in the areas of crisis intervention and follow-up counseling and that helps victims secure their rights. |
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state court administrator |
a coordinator who assists with case-flow management, operating funds budgeting, and court docket administration. |
