terms

Case in chief - the part of the trial where the government presents its evidence to prove the defendant's guilt 

Qualified immunity - immunity from tort action that is granted if a party was acting reasonably within the scope of duties

Torts: civil damages 

Civil Rights Act (1983) actions: actions under federal law against state and local officers for violations of their civil rights 

First appearance; the proceeding where a suspect is formally brought before a court for the first time 

Money bonds - allows defendants to be released prior to trial if they put up a certain amount of money they can take several forms including an unsecured bond 

Indigent defendants: defendants too poor to hire lawyers 

Grand jurors citizens selected to serve a term on a grand jury

Nolo contendere: when a defendant pleads “no contest” to a criminal charge, meaning they do not contest the issue of guilt or innocence 

Bench trials: a trial before a judge without a jury 

Hung Jury a jury that is unable to reach a verdict after protracted deliberations 

Hudson v Michigan - ruled that failure to comply with the knock and announce rule does not violate the exclusionary rule if officers have a valid warrant to search a home. The exclusionary rule is focused on illegal entry- the need for consent or a valid warrant - not if you knocked or not

Weeks v US - exclusionary rule on a federal level

U.S. v Leon - created the good faith exception impact with the exclusionary rule

Gideon v Wainwright - the right to counsel for “indigents” for felonies