courts

  • 2 types of American criminal justice system 

    • State court system 

    • Federal court system 

  • State court levels 

    • Trial courts

    • Appellate courts 

    • State supreme courts

  • Federal court circuits  

    • U.S district courts 

    • U.S. Court of Appeals

    • U.S supreme court 

  • Trial Courts of Limited Jurisdiction/Misdemeanor Courts/lower court(state)

    • Justice of the Peace and Police Magistrates Courts

    • District Courts/County Courts

    • Municipal and Magistrate Courts 

    • Specialty Courts

  • Trial court of general jurisdiction(state)

    • Superior courts 

    • Trial courts

    • Circuit courts 

    • Courts of Common Pleas

  • Basic Federal Courts

    • District federal courts 

    • US tax court

    • US Court of International Trade

    • US claims court

    • US court of veteran appeals 

    • Court of Military review 

  • Probate courts 

    • The court was involved with managing the affairs of the deceased 

    • wills, estates, guardianships, and mental health cases. 

  • Federal district courts 

    • 94 district courts 

    • 3 territorial courts

  • Trial de novo 

    • The appeal trial is retried instead of just reviewed

    • “New trial”


  • Appeal 

    • Attorneys from both sides make brief oral argument 

    • Death sentence and life imprisonment are automatically appealed 

    • Appellate jurisdiction seeking to modify or reverse the case decision 

Review the written transcript record to make sure that proper proceedings were followed

  • Conviction overturned by appellate court 

    • Trial remanded /new trial 

  • Overturn the appellate court for issues 

    • Recourse to the state supreme when statute issues

    • Recourses to US supreme with constitutional issues

  • Writ of certiorari

    • The lower court ordered it to send the records of the case forward for review

  • Bail alternatives 

    • Release on recognition 

    • Property bonds 

    • Deposit bail 

    • Conditional release

    • 3rd party custody 

    • Unsecured bond 

    • Signature bond

  • A probable cause hearing can be held with the 1st appearance but it may be held separately as it doesn't require the defendant's presence

  • Bail Bond 

    • Document guaranteeing the appearance of a defendant in court and recording the pledge of money or property to be paid to the court if they do not appear

    • Can use a bondsman is paid in full upfront with a fee of 10-15% of bond then responsible for the defendant 

  • Release on recognizance 

    • No cash or property bond is required

    • A written promise that the criminal defendant promises to appear in court

    • Criteria: no prior convictions, residential stability, good employment record

  • Property bond

    • Setting bail in the form of land, house, stocks,or  other tangible property 

    • If the  defendant absconds the court the property becomes the property of the court

  • Deposit bail 

    • A  deposit amount is withheld with the court till the defendant shows up to court if the defendant fails to appear the amount is given to the court if they do show up the defendant's money is returned 

  • Conditional release

    • The defendant is released with the condition of having to participate in treatment, restraining orders, or attendance to employment 

  • 3rd party custody 

    • Assigning the defendant custody to an individual or agency that promises that they will show up to court 

  • Unsecured Bond 

    • The defendant agrees that if they fail to appear they will forfeit the entire amount of the bond which can lead to the seizure of property or bank accounts 

  • Signature Bonds 

    • The defendant's signature promise to appear 

  • Grand Jury 

    • A group of jurors hear the evidence and determine whether there is sufficient evidence to bring accused persons to trial 

    • The indictment is submitted if the grand jury decides there is probable cause

    • Usually with felonies(true Bill) 

    • Grand jury held in secret 

    • Usually, evidence is presented by the prosecution

    • Informal action

  • Preliminary Hearing 

    • Whether a crime was committed 

    • Whether crime occurred in territorial Jurisdiction 

    • Whether there were reasonable grounds that it was the defendant 

    • Competent to stand trial 

  • Information 

    • Formal written accusation submitted to a court by a prosecutor 

    • Alleging that a specific person committed a particular offense 

  • Nolo Contendere Plea

    • No contest 

    • This plea can be a guilty plea

  • Stand mute 

    • Not any plea

    • Defense strategy 

    • Some consider it as pleading not guilty 

  • Lay Witness 

    • Witness who testify facts 

    • “I saw the black truck leave the shop”

    • Do not state any opinions

  • Subpoena

    • Written order issued by judicial officer or grand jury rqiring an idivifual to appear in court and to gice teatimony or bring material that can be used as evidence 

    • Could require books, papers or other items 

  • Stages in a Criminal Trial 

    • 1. Trial initiation 

    • 2 .Jury selection 

    • 3. Opening Statements

    • 4. Presentation of evidence 

    • 5 .Closing arguments 

    • 6 .Judge charges the jury 

    • 7. Jury deliberation 

    • 8 .Verdict