Key Concepts in Law and Society

This set of flashcards encompasses key concepts discussed in lectures and readings related to law, courts, social change, and the influence of media on judicial proceedings.

Social Interactions

Basis of many rules, norms, and values developed in society, producing a sense of normality and guided by social rules.

Laws

Social rules that are punishable by civil, criminal, and administrative penalties, making them enforceable processes.

Law-Society Relation

Law shapes and is shaped by the society it operates in, requiring external guarantees for conformity.

Main Functions of Law

Social control, dispute settlement, and social change/social engineering.

Official Rhetoric of Law

Law is presented as an impartial, neutral, and objective system for resolving social conflict.

Judicial Independence

Essential for impartiality, ensuring judges can make rulings based on law without external pressures.

Media Influence on Juror Impartiality

Media shapes public and juror perceptions, affecting the presumption of innocence and potentially leading to biased verdicts.

Courts

Dispute processing institutions that adjudicate cases; they must be accessible to all members of society.

Judges

Expected to be impartial, governed by legal principles, and independent of personal influences.

Access to Justice

The ability of individuals to receive fair legal assistance and understand their rights within the legal system.

The CSI Effect

The belief that crime TV shows influence juror decisions by creating unrealistic expectations about forensic evidence.

Tobacco Litigation

Legal cases in the 1990s that led to significant changes in tobacco policymaking and public awareness.

Judicial Accountability

Judges are independent but remain answerable for their actions, with mechanisms for complaints and appeals.

Domestic Violence Protection Orders

Judicial decisions regarding protective measures in cases of intimate partner violence, influenced by various factors.

Moral Regulation

The use of law to enforce moral norms, affecting areas like sexuality and family.

Vriend v. Alberta

A notable case regarding same-sex marriage that reflects changes in societal values and legal standards.

Legal Realism

An approach that suggests judicial decisions are influenced not just by legal factors but also by policy preferences and external contexts.