Determination of Guilt: Plea Bargaining and Trials

Flashcards covering key vocabulary and concepts related to plea bargaining and the trial process.

Courtroom Workgroup

A group of courtroom participants, including judges, lawyers, and others, who interact and cooperate to navigate the legal process.

Plea Bargaining

A negotiated settlement between the prosecution and the defendant, often involving a guilty plea in exchange for a lighter sentence.

Adversarial System

A legal system where two advocates represent their parties' positions before an impartial judge or jury.

Legal Culture

The shared norms and behaviors that characterize the activities and procedures of a particular court.

Trial Process

The typical sequence of events in a trial, including jury selection, opening statements, presentation of evidence, and closing arguments.

Habeas Corpus

A legal principle allowing individuals to challenge their detention or imprisonment in court.

Jury Selection

The process of choosing jurors who will decide the outcome of a trial.

Appeal

A legal process where a case is reviewed by a higher court to correct errors made in a lower court.

Boykin v. Alabama (1969)

A Supreme Court case stating that defendants must voluntarily plead guilty.

Criminal Trial Stages

The key stages that a criminal trial goes through from jury selection to the jury's decision.