SS.7.C.3.11 VOCAB

appeal

a request, made after a trial, asking a higher court to decide whether that trial was conducted properly

appellate court

any court that has the power to hear appeals from lower courts

circuit courts

a court for a defined region of a state (usually including several counties) that has specific divisions and hears cases involving more serious crimes (felonies) and civil cases involving large amounts of money (more than $15,000)

county courts

a court that hears both civil and criminal cases involving less serious crimes or minor issues for one specific county

Florida District Court of Appeals

an appellate court in the state court system that reviews decisions made by the lower trial courts

jurisdiction

the right and power for courts to hear a case, interpret and apply the law

U.S. Supreme Court

the highest court of the United States; it sits at the top of the federal court system

Florida Supreme Court

the highest court in Florida

jury

a group of citizens sworn to give a true verdict according to the evidence presented in a court of law

original jurisdiction

the power of a court to be the first to hear a case on a specific topic

U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals

the courts where parties who are dissatisfied with the judgment of a U.S. District court may take their case

U.S. District Courts

the courts where most federal cases begin, the U.S. District Courts are courts of original jurisdiction and hear civil and criminal cases

trial court

the local, state, or federal court that is the first to hear a civil or criminal case; involves a hearing and decision with a single judge, with or without a jury