court yay

district courts

trial courts

adversarial system

american where judge is just chill guy

inquisitional system

judge takes more active role and asks questions

6th amendment

protects the rights of criminal defendants aka gives them a lawyer

7th amendment

ensures a jury trial for civil disputes

removal for cause

automatic obvious removal

peremptory challenge

attorney wants to remove for no clear reason and doesnt have to say why

plea bargain

resolving case before trial criminal case

settlement/compromise

resolving case before trial civil case

appellate courts

three judges hear appeals about error of law

majority decision

who won the case and why

dissenting opinion

disagrees with majority and why

concurring opinion

agree with a side but for a diff reason

petition for certiorari

a request by a party that the lower court send its record up to a higher court for review

stare decisis

rule that precedent must be followed unless big reason not to