Government Ch. 18 - Judicial Branch

Inferior courts

the lower federal courts, beneath the Supreme Court

Jurisdiction

the authority of a court to have a case

Exclusive jurisdiction

power of the federal courts alone to hear certain cases

Concurrent jurisdiction

power shared by federal and state courts to hear certain cases

Plaintiff

in civil law, the party who brings a suit or some other legal action against another in court

Defendant

in civil law, the party against whom a court action is brought by the plaintiff

Original jurisdiction

the power of the court to hear a case, before any other cases

Appellate jurisdiction

the authority of the court to review decisions of inferior courts

Criminal case

a case in which a defendant is tried for committing a crime as defined by the law

Civil case

a case involving a noncriminal matter such as a contract dispute or a claim of patent infringement

Docket

A court's list of cases to be heard

Writ of certiorari

an order by a higher court directing a lower court to send up the record in a given case for review

Majority opinion

Officially called the Opinion of the court; announces the Court's decision in a case and sets out the reasoning on which it is based

Precedent

Court decision that stands as an example to be followed in future, similar cases

Concurring opinion

Written explanation of the views of one or more judges who support a decision reached by a majority of the court, but wish to add or emphasize a point that was not made in majority opinion

Dissenting opinion

written explanation of the views of one or more judges who disagree with a decision reached by majority of the court

Redress

Satisfaction of a claim payment

Court-martial

A court composed of military personnel, the trial of those accused of violating military law

amicus curiae

"friend of the court" brief written by a group that's not directly involved in a case but which is interested in persuading the court

brief

written argument presented to an appellate court

Marbury v. Madison

Supreme Court case in which the Court first established the power of judicial review