criminal justice test

petit jury

a group of unbiased persons who determine the facts in a given case

grand jury

a panel which receives accusations of crimes, hears preliminary evidence, and hands down indictments

hung jury

a jury which can’t agree on a specific verdict

prosecuting attorney

public official who represents the government’s case against a person accused of a crime

judge

a civil officer invested with power to hear civil and criminal cases brought to trial and to administer justice between parties in court

defense attorney

counsel employed to represent a defendant

change of venue

a motion that the location of a trial be moved from the locale where the crime was committed

subpoena

a court order requiring a person to appear and testify in court

juror age range

21-70

requirements for potential jurors

u.s. citizenship, no convictions, literate

where do states derive juror lists?

tax lists, dmv lists, voter lists

minimum number of jurors for a case

6

which side questions the juror first?

defense

can lawyers ask jurors personal questions?

yes

challenge for cause

dismissal for a valid reason

who makes the final decision when a lawyer uses a challenge for cause on a potential juror?

the judge

can the opposing side object to a peremptory challenge?

no

after the selection of the jury, what is the next step in the trial?

opening statements

voir dire

process of having fair and impartial jury

badgering

on cross-examination, not giving the witness time to answer the question

hearsay

evidence, brought out by the testimony of a witness at trial, which is not based upon his personal knowledge, but rather on information he obtained from someone else, who is not available for cross examination

irrelevant

the question is not pertinent to the defendants guilt of innocence

leading the witness

on direct examination, asking a question that puts words in the mouth of the witness

not an expert

the question calls for expert testimony that the witness can’t give

opinion

the witness is not qualified to give an opinion on the matter, or should not be givingone

speculation

the question requires a guess on the part of the witness

indict

formally accuse of a crime