GOV CHP 7

jurisdiction

A court’s authority to hear a case

Concurrent jurisdiction

When both state and federal courts can hear a case

Plaintiff

The person who brings a case to court.

Defendant

The person being accused or sued in court

Original jurisdiction

A court’s power to hear a case first.

Appellate jurisdiction

A court’s power to review a lower court’s decision.

Sandra Day O’Connor

First woman on the U.S. Supreme Court.

Ruth Bader Ginsburg

Second woman on the Supreme Court, fought for gender equality.

Sonia Sotomayor

First Hispanic Supreme Court justice.

Elena Kagan

Supreme Court justice, former Solicitor General

Thurgood Marshall

First Black Supreme Court justice, civil rights leader.

Clarence Thomas

Supreme Court justice, replaced Thurgood Marshall.

Judicial restraint

Judges should limit their power and follow the law as written.

Precedent

A past court decision used as a guide for future cases.

Judicial activism

Judges interpret the law broadly, influencing policy.

District of Columbia

Washington, D.C., the U.S. capital, not a state.

Judicial review

The power of courts to declare laws unconstitutional.

Writ of certiorari

An order for a lower court to send a case to the Supreme Court.

Certificate

When a lower court asks the Supreme Court to clarify a legal question.

Brief

A written argument in a court case.

Majority opinion

The official decision of the Supreme Court, agreed upon by most justices.

Concurring opinion

A justice agrees with the majority but for different reasons.

Dissenting opinion

A justice disagrees with the majority decision.

James Madison

Fourth U.S. president, helped write the Constitution.

John Marshall

Chief Justice who established judicial review in Marbury v. Madison.

Thomas Jefferson

Third U.S. president, opposed strong federal courts.

William Marbury

Plaintiff in Marbury v. Madison, which led to judicial review.

Criminal case

A case where someone is accused of breaking the law

Civil case

A case about rights, money, or disputes between people.

Docket

A court’s list of cases to be heard.

Record

The official documentation of a case.

Courts-martial

Military courts for soldiers accused of breaking military law.

Civilian tribunal

A non-military court handling civilian cases.

Redress

Compensation for harm or loss through the courts.

Guantanamo Bay

A U.S. naval base in Cuba, used as a detention center.