The American Judicial System, Jurisdiction, and Venue

These flashcards cover key terms and concepts from the American judicial system, including definitions related to jurisdiction, venue, and court roles.

Jurisdiction

The authority of a court to hear and decide a case.

Venue

The specific location where a trial is held.

Plaintiff

The person who brings a lawsuit against another party.

Defendant

The individual or entity being accused or sued in a court.

State Courts

Courts that deal with matters of state constitutions, statutes, common law, and local ordinances.

Federal Courts

Courts that handle cases involving the federal Constitution, statutes, and administrative agencies.

Appellate Courts

Courts that review decisions made by lower trial courts, usually without new evidence.

Precedent

A legal principle established in previous case law that must be followed by lower courts.

Minimum Contacts

Legal standard to determine if a defendant has sufficient connections to a state for a court to exercise personal jurisdiction.

Zippo Sliding Scale

A test used to determine jurisdiction based on a website's interactivity with users in the state.

Long-Arm Statutes

State laws that allow courts to reach beyond their borders to exercise jurisdiction over out-of-state defendants under certain conditions.

Case of First Impression

A legal case where no prior case law exists on the issue being decided.

General Authority

Courts with broad jurisdiction that hear many types of cases.

Limited Authority

Courts that have jurisdiction restricted to specific types of cases.

Forum Selection Clause

A contract provision that designates a particular jurisdiction to resolve any disputes.