Court Systems, Jurisdiction, Pre-Trial, Trial, and Appellate Proceedings

Vocabulary flashcards covering key legal terms, landmark cases, pre-trial procedures, discovery tools, trial sequence, and appellate court rulings.

Trial Courts

Courts responsible for determining facts, hearing witnesses, receiving evidence, and applying legal rules from higher courts.

Appellate Courts

Courts that review the trial-court record to decide whether the law was applied correctly, without hearing new witnesses or receiving new evidence.

Jurisdiction

A court's legal power to hear a case.

Subject Matter Jurisdiction

The legal power of a court to hear a specific type or category of case.

Personal Jurisdiction

The legal power of a court over a specific defendant.

Long-Arm Statute

A state law permitting a court to exercise personal jurisdiction over an out-of-state defendant who has sufficient minimum contacts with the state.

International Shoe Co. v. Washington (1945)

Key case ruling that a state can exercise personal jurisdiction over an out-of-state defendant when the defendant has sufficient minimum contacts with the state consistent with fairness and due process.

Pleadings

The formal documents that begin and respond to a lawsuit.

Complaint

The plaintiff's legal document stating the facts, legal claims, and requested remedy.

Summons

An official notice telling the defendant to respond to the complaint, generally within the required deadline.

Answer

The defendant's response to the complaint that admits, denies, or explains allegations; failure to respond leads to a default judgment.

Counterclaim

A claim brought by the defendant against the plaintiff.

Reply

The plaintiff's formal response to a defendant's counterclaim.

Class Action

A lawsuit in which one or more plaintiffs represent a larger group with similar claims.

Patel v. Facebook, Inc.

An example of a class action lawsuit that resulted in a $550\text{ million}$ settlement.

Motion to Dismiss

A pre-trial motion where the defendant asks the court to end the case early, assuming the complaint's factual allegations are true.

Iqbal (2009)

A key legal precedent holding that a complaint must contain enough facts to make the claim plausible, not merely possible.

Discovery

The pre-trial procedure where both sides exchange evidence and information.

Interrogatories

Written questions during discovery that must be answered under oath.

Depositions

Oral questioning of a witness or party under oath, usually conducted before trial.

Production of Documents

A discovery request for documents, digital files, objects, or property for inspection.

Protective Order

A discovery motion that limits or protects against improper discovery.

Motion to Compel

A discovery motion asking the court to force a party to provide required discovery.

Summary Judgment

A decision by the judge without a trial when there is no genuine dispute about important facts and the law allows one side to win.

Jones v. Clinton (1998)

An example court case involving summary judgment.

Voir Dire

The process in which lawyers and the judge question potential jurors to select an impartial jury.

Challenge For Cause

An unlimited type of challenge used to remove a potential juror due to proven bias.

Peremptory Challenge

A limited type of challenge that allows the removal of a potential juror without giving a reason.

Preponderance of the Evidence

The burden of proof in a civil case requiring the plaintiff to show their claim is more likely true than not ($51\%$ vs. $49\%$).

Beyond a Reasonable Doubt

The high burden of proof required by the government in a criminal case.

Motion for Directed Verdict

A motion made by the defense asking the judge to end the case because the plaintiff failed to prove an essential claim, granted only when reasonable minds could not disagree.

JNOV (Judgment Notwithstanding the Verdict)

A post-trial motion asking the trial judge to set aside the jury's verdict.

Motion for New Trial

A post-trial motion requesting a new trial due to a significant legal or procedural error.

Affirm

An appellate court ruling to keep the lower court's decision intact.

Modify

An appellate court ruling to keep the decision but change specific details, such as damages.

Reverse & Remand

An appellate court ruling to overturn the lower court's decision and send the case back to the trial court.

Reverse

An appellate court ruling to overturn the lower court's decision without sending it back for a new trial.

Harmless Error

A trial error that occurred but did not affect the ultimate outcome of the case.