original jurisdiction
When a case is tried before the Court
Appellate jurisdiction
The power of a higher court to hear appeals from a lower court
Litigant
A person involved in a lawsuit
Due process
Fair treatment through the normal judicial system
Grand jury
A group of people selected to sit on a jury
Indictment
A formal charge or accusation of a serious crime
District court
Resolve disputes by determining the facts and applying legal principles; at least one in each state and 94 total
Circuit court
Has jurisdiction over several counties or districts within a state
Opinion
Someone’s view of something, not necessarily a fact
Solicitor general
The government’s defense lawyer
Brief
A written legal argument presented to a court
Amicus curiae
An advisor to a court of law in a case
Writ of certiorari
The supreme court orders a lower court to send up the record of the case for review
Majority opinion
Agreed to by more than half the members of a court
Dissenting opinion
Written by an appellate judge or Supreme court justice who disagrees with the majority opinion in a given case.
Oral argument
Presentation of a case before a court by spoken word
Judicial review
The supreme court has the final authority to find acts of government unconstitutional
Precedent
A decided case that is a basis for determining later cases involving similar facts or issues.
Free exercise clause
Protects citizens’ right to practice their religion as they please
Parochial school
A private school supported by a particular church or parish
Secular
Denoting attitudes, activities, and other things that have no religious or spiritual basis
Slander
Making a false spoken statement that damages a person’s reputation
Libel
A false statement that is published and damages a person’s reputation
Symbolic speech
Nonverbal, nonwritten forms of communication, like flag burning and burning draft cards
Seditious speech
Speech directed at the overthrow of government
Prior restraint
Suppression of material that would be published or broadcast, because it would be harmful or libelous.
Gag order
A judge’s order that a case may not be discussed in public
Law
A rule in which a country or community recognizes as the correct, legal procedures
Constitutional law
Rights carved out in the federal and state constitutions
Statute
A law enacted by a legislature
Ordinance
A piece of legislation enacted by a municipal authority
Common law
A body of law based on court decisions rather than codes or statutes
Procedural due process
Requires state actors to provide certain procedural protections before any person is deprived of life, liberty, or property
Voir dire
A preliminary examination of a witness or a juror by a judge or counsel
Civil law
A branch of law that regulates the non criminal rights and duties of persons
Expressed contract
An exchange of promises where the agreement is made either orally, in writing, or both
Implied contract
An obligation that derives from actions, conduct, or circumstances of one or more people in an agreement
Real property
The land plus anything growing on it or attached to it (including man made objects)
Personal property
Property not permanently affixed to land
Tort
An act or omission that gives rise to injury or harm to another (like assault or property damage)
Plaintiff
The party who brings a legal action or in whose name its brought
Defendant
The party who is being sued
Injunction
A court order that prevents a party from performing or ordering a specific act
Summons
A court form which notifies the defendant that they are being sued
Affidavit
A sworn statement a person makes, put in writing
Criminal law
A system of law dealing with law cases involving a crime
Misdemeanor
Any criminal offense punishable by imprisonment for under one year
Felony
Offenses that result in prison sentences of more than one year
Arrest warrant
A document issued by a judge that authorizes the police to take someone into custody
Plea bargain
The negotiation of an agreement between the prosecution and defense
Jury
A group of people empowered to make findings of facts and render a verdict for a trial
Verdict
The finding or decision of a jury on the matter submitted to it in trial (innocent/guilty)
Hung jury
A jury that is unable to reach a verdict by the required voting margin
Double jeopardy
No person can be convicted twice of the same offense
Sentence
The term of imprisonment or probation imposed on a convicted defendant for ciminal wrongdoing