Chapter 7 Courts, Prosecution, and the Defense

Courts of Limited Jurisdiction 

Courts that can hear only certain types of cases. ; Handle minor cases (misdemeanors, traffic)

• Restricted to hearing minor or less serious civil and criminal cases

• May handle traffic violations, minor misdemeanor offenses, small civil cases (like small claims)

Specialized Courts 

Usually focus on one type of criminal act (ex: drug courts, family courts)

• Deal with specific types of cases or people

• Examples:

  • Drug courts (focus on rehab)

  • Family courts

  • Juvenile courts

👉 Focus is often on helping, not just punishing

Courts of General Jurisdiction 

• Handle serious crimes (felonies) and major civil cases

• These are the courts where trials usually happen

👉 Think: “big cases = big court”

Courts that could hear any cases ; Handle serious crimes (felonies)

• Known as superior court, supreme court, felony court or circuit court. 

• Have jurisdiction over felony offenses and more serious civil cases

Appellate Courts 

• Court that reconsiders a case that has already been tried ;

• Do NOT hold trials

• Review cases to see if legal mistakes were made

• Can:

  • Uphold (agree with decision)

  • Reverse (change decision)

  • Send back for a new trial

👉 Think: “checking for errors”

Federal Courts System - (3 Levels)

1. U.S. District Courts

• Trial courts (where cases start)

2. Courts of Appeals (U.S. Circuit Courts)

• Review decisions from district courts

• Divides the country (NY is in the 2nd circuit) 

3. U.S. Supreme Court

• Highest court in the country

• Final say on legal issues

• Chooses which cases to hear

👉 Only a few cases reach the Supreme Court

U.S. Supreme Court 

• The nation’s highest appellate body and the court of last resort for all cases tried in the various federal and state courts. 

• Composed of 9 members appointed for lifetime terms by the President, with the approval of the Senate. 

Highest court, final decisions

Bench Trial

Jury Trial

• Jury decides guilty or not guilty

When a jury trial is waived, the judge must decide the defendant’s guilt in a bench trial

(When the defendant doesn't want their case to be heard by the jury)

Judge decides final outcome (no jury)

Bench Trial

• Judge decides everything

• No jury involved

(Defendants can choose a bench trial sometimes)

Prosecutorial Discretion 

Prosecutor = decision maker of the case.

The prosecutor gets to decide what happens with the charges.

• The prosecutor decides whether to bring a case to trial or to dismiss it outright. 

• Used to reduce the number cases that proceed to trial

• Plea bargaining is very common 

When cases go to trial, very few defendants are acquitted. 

• Indication that prosecutorial discretion is used to screen out the weakest cases. 

• Prosecutor has the power to decide:

  • Whether to charge someone

  • What charges to file

  • Whether to offer a plea deal

👉 This gives prosecutors a lot of control over the case

The Right to Counsel

The Sixth Amendment to the US Constitution assures the right to counsel. 

Defendants have the right to a lawyer ; If they can’t afford one → the court provides one

This ensures a fair trial