Unit 1: Trial and Law

Judge

The _ oversees the courtroom/ trial and rules on matters of law.

Defendant

the person accused of the crime/ the person that goes on trial.

Prosecution.

is the _ that is trying to convict (find guilty) the defendant.

Defense.

a _ who is trying to acquit (find not guilty) of the defendant.

Witness.

is someone who testifies at a trial because he/she knows something or saw something connected to the case.

Eyewitness.

saw the crime

Expert witness.

scientists, doctors, e.c.t. knows a lot about a topic and can figure out what happened based on evidence.

Character witness.

someone who knows the defendant and can talk about what she/he is like.

the jury.

a group of usually 12 or more people who listen during a trial and denise of the defendant is guilty or not guilty based on the facts.

the bailiff.

an officer who helps the judge to keep order in the courtroom. He also sweats in witnesses when they testify.

courtroom artist and reporters.

inform the public about the trial through pictures and articles/ stories.

felony

major crime like murder, arson, or armed robbery

misdemeanor

less serious crime like shoplifting, vandalism, etc.

Homocide

taking another persons life

manslaughter

first degree murder, planning to kill someone

due process of law

a fundamental principle of fairness in all legal matters, both civil and criminal, especially in courts.

crime is committed, arrest is made, booking (miranda, call lawyer, mug shot, fingerprint), grand jury, if there’s enough evidence the grand jury will indict if not the defendant is set free, arraignment, pleads guilty or pleads not guilty, bail, bail is paid or bail is denied, trial.

what is the order of due process of law

trial

what is the tenth step in due process of law

defendant

the person charged with a crime, placed on trial

subpoena

a written requirement directing a person to appear in court to testify

grand jury

a large jury that investigates accusations and officially charge with a crime. they decide if there is enough evidence to move on.

indictment

to officially charge with the crime.

arraignment

a hearing in front of a judge where defendant answers to the charges against him or her. bail may be considered.

bail

money diposited with the court to get a defendant released from jail until a trial starts.

cross examination

when opposite attorney questions opposing witness

deliberate

to carefully consider or discuss

unanimous

when all agree

hung jury

when a jury can’t come to a unanimous decision

aquit

not guilty

convict

guity

verdict

a decision made after the jury deliberates.

jury duty

any adult over 18 years of age who lives in that county. can be excused for a hardship, such childcare, sick, e.t.c. Or for a potential bias, like if you have police in your family. such as you need to be objective- able to look at the case in an open minded way.

how is someone chosen for jury duty

someone revives a subpoena a post card to let you know you have jury duty. You can only get chosen every 7 years randomly.

petit jury

serve on a jury in a regular trial with one case (12-13 people)

criminal trial

crime is committed, state VS defendant, guilty party can go to jail.

Civil trial

a lawsuit, plaintiff VS defendant, happens over a dispute, issue or someone sues, guilty has to pay.

plaintiff

a person who brings a case against another in a court of law