The Courts: Structure and Participants

These flashcards cover key terms and definitions related to the structure and participants of the court system as outlined in the lecture notes.

Dual court system

federal and state court systems in the United States.

Jurisdiction

The territory or people over which a court may exercise lawful authority.

Original jurisdiction

The authority of a court to hear or to act on a case from its beginning and to pass judgment on facts.

Appellate jurisdiction

The lawful authority of a court to review a decision made by a lower court.

Trial de novo

A term applied to cases that are retried on appeal.

Prosecuting attorney

An attorney responsible for presenting the state's case against the defendant.

Defendant

The accused criminal law violator whose interests at trial are represented by defense counsel.

Public defender

A state-employed lawyer defending indigent clients.

Expert witness

A person who has special skills or knowledge recognized by the court and may express opinions during testimony.

Lay witness

A nonexpert who may testify only to the facts and cannot express opinions on the stand.

Bailiff

An officer of the court whose duty is to ensure an orderly courtroom and to provide security.

Judicial misconduct

Improper behavior or overstepping of authority by a judge that may violate legal or ethical standards.

Judicial selection

The process by which judges are chosen for their positions, whether through election or appointment.

Prosecutorial discretion

The decision-making power of prosecutors based on the wide range of choices available to them.

Indigent defense

Legal representation provided to defendants who cannot afford an attorney.