Criminal Justice Courts Chapters 5-8

Harmful Errors

_____ are errors made by judges that may be prejudicial to a defendant's case. May lead to reversals of convictions against defendants and to new trials.

Impeachment

_____ are the proceedings for the removal of a political officer, such as a governor, president, or judge

Missouri Plan

_____ is the method of selecting judges in which a merit system for appointments is used. Believed to reduce political influence in the selection of judges.

How are US Supreme Court judges, federal appeals court , and federal district court judges appointed?

Appointed by the president with advice and consent of senate

Blue Ribbon Jury

_____ is a jury considered by either side, prosecution or defense, to be ideal because of its perceived likelihood of rendering a verdict favorable to that side

True or False: Jurors are often selected because of their higher educational level and intellectual skills?

True

Challenge for Cause

_____ is the method used by either prosecution or defense attorneys to strike a prospective juror from the available jury pool because of the prejudices they might have, either toward the defendant or the prosecution

Juror Misconduct

_____any impropriety by a juror

Jury Nullification

A Jury _____ when they refuse to accept the validity of evidence at trial and acquits or convicts for lesser offense

Peremptory Challenge

A _____ is the rejection of a juror by either the prosecution or defense in which no reason needs to be provided for excusing jurors from jury duty. Each side has a limited number of these challenges

Venire

List of potential jurors made up from the registered voters. Persons must reside with the parish and state where the jury trial is being held

Voire Dire

_____ means "To speak the truth" , Interrogations process whereby prospective jurors are questioned by either the judge or by the prosecution or defense attorneys to determine biases and prejudices

Bail

_____ is a Surety (e.g., cash or paper bond) provided by a defendant or others to guarantee their subsequent appearance in court to face criminal charges.

Cross Examination

_____ Examination is the questioning of one side's witness by the other side's attorney, either the prosecution or the defense

Direct Examination

_____ Examination is the questioning by attorney of one's own witness during a trial

Motion in Limine

A _____ is a pretrial motion. Generally to obtain judicial approval to admit certain evidence that might otherwise be considered prejudicial or inflammatory

Nolo Contendre

_____ is a plea of no contest. (Whereby defendant is not disputing the facts. Still treated as a guilty plea)

Preliminary Examination

A _____ hearing by the magistrate or other judicial officer to determine if probable cause exits and to determine if person charged with a crime should be held for trial

Verdict

_____ is the decision by judge or jury concerning the guilt or innocence of a defendant

Exclusionary rule

A _____ rule providing that the evidence has been obtained in violation of the privileges guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution such may be excluded at trial

Charge Bargaining

A _____ bargaining is the process of negations between prosecutors and defense attorneys involving the dismissal of one or more charges against defendants in exchange for a guilty plea to the remaining charges, or in which the prosecutor down-grades the charges in exchange for a guilty plea.

Co-Conspirator

_____ is another party besides the defendant who is alleged to have committed the same crime in concert with the defendant

Flat Time

_____ time is the actual amount of time required to be served by a convicted offender while incarcerated

Pre-Sentencing Investigation Report

_____ or (PSI) an analysis of a convicted offender provided to the court by a probation officer that examines the background of the offender

Nolle Prosequi

Meaning on the record dismissal of charges. An _____ entry, made by a prosecutor on the record of a case and announced in court, indicating that the charges specified will not be prosecuted.