State Courts and Judicial Review

These flashcards cover key terms and concepts related to state courts, including definitions pertinent to judicial processes and structures.

Louisiana State Supreme Court

The highest court in Louisiana located in the French Quarter.

Docket

Another term for the agenda or list of cases that a court plans to address.

Judicial Review

The power of the courts to evaluate the lawfulness of legislation and executive actions.

Original Jurisdiction

The authority of a court to hear a case for the first time.

Appellate Jurisdiction

The authority of a court to review the decisions of lower courts.

Grand Jury

A jury of 12 members that determines whether there is sufficient evidence to charge someone with a crime.

Indictment

A formal charge or accusation of a serious crime by a grand jury.

Petite Jury

A trial jury that determines guilt or liability in a civil or criminal case, typically composed of 12 members.

Acquittal

A judgment that a person is not guilty of the crime with which they were charged.

Voir Dire

The process by which jurors are questioned about their backgrounds and potential biases before being selected.

Civil Case

A legal case that involves disputes between individuals or organizations, typically seeking monetary damages.

Criminal Case

A case in which the government prosecutes an individual for violating a criminal law.

Tort

A wrongful act or infringement of a right leading to civil legal liability.

Common Law

Law derived from judicial decisions rather than statutes.

Executive Order

A directive issued by the president or governor that manages operations of the government.

Counter-majoritarian

A term referring to judicial actions that overturn laws passed by democratically elected bodies.

Judicial Activism

The practice of judges making rulings based on personal or political considerations rather than existing law.

Judicial Restraint

The principle that judges should limit the exercise of their own power and defer to the decisions of the elected branches.