Chapter 15 Vocab Flashcards
the branch of law that regulates the conduct of individuals, defines crimes, and provides punishments for criminal acts
criminal law
the branch of law that concerns relationships between private parties
civil law
the obligation in a legal case to prove allegations by presenting strong supporting evidence
burden of proof
the person or party in a criminal trial who is charged with committing a crime, or the person or party being sued in a civil case
defendant
the attorneys representing the government and the people in a criminal case
prosecution
the person or party who brings a lawsuit, or legal action, against another party in a civil case
Flips
plaintiff
an order from the Supreme Court to a lower court to provide the records of a case the Court has decided to review
writ of certiorari
a written document drawn up by an attorney that presents the facts and points of law in a client’s case
legal brief
the legal principle that the evidence presented in a trial must allow for no other reasonable explanation than the one given
beyond a reasonable doubt
money paid by the liable party in a lawsuit to compensate for losses suffered by the plaintiff
damages
the idea that the weight of the plaintiff’s evidence in a civil trial clearly points to the defendant being at fault
preponderance of evidence
the questioning of a witness in court by an attorney for the opposing side
cross examination
a court’s authority to hear a case for the first time, before it appears in any other court
original jurisdiction
a courts authority to review decisions made in lower courts
appellate jurisdiction
a mistake made by a judge in applying the law to a specific case
errors of law
