American Chapter 8

Judiciary Act of 1789

first bill ever introduced in the senate to create the court

system

Constitutional courts

Courts created by congress power from Article III

11th Amendment

a state cannot be sued by American citizens or a foreign nation

Judge

Chief Decision makers of the federal judiciary

Justices

the heads of the Supreme Court

Plaintiff

brings up a case against the defendant (the one being sued

Trial

an examination of the evidence for an accused crime in a court of law

Grand Jury

Examines the evidence before the trial takes place

Verdict

Guilty or not guilty

Hung Jury

when the jury cannot agree

Evidence

any tangible or visual material presented as proof for or against a crime

Direct Evidence

given by someone who actually witness the crime

Circumstantial Evidence

conclusions deduced from facts about the case

Demonstrative evidence

objects that relate to the case

Exclusionary Rule

if evidence is not obtained properly it cannot be used in

court

Appeal

asking a higher level court to review a Verdict

United States Courts of Appeals

where the vast majority of appealed cases go

to

Appellate jurisdiction

the right of a court to review the ruling of a lower court

Brief

written document that describes the case

Precedent

previous decisions on criminal cases

Justices

9 total in the Supreme Court; 1 chief 8 associate judges

John Roberts Jr.

current Chief Justice

Original

cases regarding ambassadors and states

Appellate

any court in the U.S. can appeal to them

Judicial Review

The Supreme Court’s most important power

Marbury vs. Madison

court case which gave the power of judicial review to the Supreme Court; chief justice John Marshall made the decision

Writ of mandamus

a court order compelling a person to obey

Writs of Certiorari

submitted to the Court by the appellant which they review and decide

Appellant

one who appeals a case

Discretionary Review

the Court can choose if they will hear a case that is appealed to them

Petitioner

petitions a court to review the decision of a lower court

Affirm or reverse

What can a judge do on a decision

Unconstitutional

What does Judicial Review declare if a law or action is what

John Marshall

Who made the decision to give the power of judicial review to the Supreme Court

Supreme Court

What is the only specific court that must be in existence

Congress

What have all other courts been created by

American Bar Association

What organization does the President hear advice from

Defendant

A plaintiff brings up a case against the what

Original jurisdiction

What do District Courts have in most cases

Indicted

What does it mean to be officially charged with a crime

Acquitted

What does it mean if the defendant is released and not charged

Verdict

What does an appeal ask a high level court to review

Original Jurisdiction

What does the appeals court not have