appeal
to ask a higher court to review a previous decision
court of appeals
a court where judges review previous court decisions from district trial courts, also known as circuit courts
3
the number of judges in courts of appeals
12
the number of appeal courts there are, is also the number of circuits there are
circuit 3
we live in this circuit
circuits
zones of the united states that determine what appeal court the trial is held in
majority opinion
a ruling that has the most amount of support
dissenting opinion
a ruling that has the least amount of support
plaintiff
the party who brings the case to court
defendant
the party who is being taken to court
precedent
the first decision of a case that influences later reviews
prosecution
the party that brings a case to court and is employed by the state
criminal case
a case that is brought to court by a prosecution that charges another party with a crime
civil case
a case that is brought to court by a plaintiff and defendant
district court
this type of court has at least one in every state
federal laws
the type of laws that district courts try
jury
the anonymous group of people brought in to rule the case in district courts
unanimous
when a decision is agreed upon by everyone, juries must have this kind of decision
9
the number of justices in the supreme court
appellate jurisdiction
the power to review decisions
supreme court
this court reviews cases that have been tried in the district and court of appeals, this courts decisions can’t be appealed
lifetime
the length of appointment for supreme court justices
5
the minimum number of justices that must take a side on the case for that to be the final ruling
president
this person nominates supreme court justices
senate
the group of people approve supreme court justices that have been nominated
roe v. wade
a court case that confirmed the right to choose to have an abortion
nixon v. united states
a court case that challenged the senate’s decision regarding an impeachment case
schneck v. united states
a court case that involved the enforcement of the espionage act during world war I
mapp v. ohio
a court case that ruled that evidence that was illegally obtained couldn’t be used in court
roper v. simmons
a court case that ruled it’s unconstitutional to give minors the same punishments as adults