2.8 & 2.9 Flashcards
apellate jurisdiction
the authority of a court to hear and review decisions made by lower courts in that system
attorney general
assisted by the FBI and other federal law enforcement agencies
certiorari
a decision to hear an appeal from a lower court
judicial review
authority 4 SCOTUS to strike down a law/executive action if it conflicts with the Constitution
original jurisdiction
the authority of a court to act as the 1st court to hear a case
US District Courts
lowest level of the federal judiciary; courts have original jurisdiction at the federal level
US Circuit Courts of Appeals
shape the law; review and hear appeals from the federal district courts
US Supreme Court
hears cases on appeal from the circuit courts and from the state supreme courts
binding precedent
when a U.S. district court receives a case that parallels an already decided case from the circuit level, the district court is obliged to rule the same way
persuasive precedent
judges can consider past decisions made in other district courts or far away circuit courts as a guiding basis for a decision
stare decisis
letting a previous decision stand
precedent
a judicial decision that guides future courts in handling similar cases
John Roberts
guided the Court with judicial minimalism; achieved more unanimity in decisions than some previous chief justices and has written more narrow opinions to address the questions before the Court.
