Chapter 2 Flashcards
Subject matter jurisdiction
the type of case a court has authority to hear
Geographic jurisdiction
political boundaries in which the incident took place
Hierarchical jurisdiction
the difference between trial and appellate courts
Dual Court systems
a system consisting of a separate judicial structure for each state in addition to a national structure
Concurrent jurisdiction
Concurrent jurisdiction is the ability to exercise judicial review by different courts at the same time, within the same territory, and over the same subject matter
Limited jurisdiction
when the court only has jurisdiction over on certain types of cases such as bankruptcy, or family matters: e.g. municipal court, county court or city court.
General jurisdiction
A court of general jurisdiction is one that has the authority to hear cases of all kinds - criminal, civil, family, probate, and so forth(e.g. district court, circuit court and superior court)
General sessions courts
tribunal courts in particular states with limited jurisdiction to hear misdemeanor cases
Circuit courts
Courts with several counties or districts within their jurisdiction
Circuit riders
Judges who rode from jurisdiction to jurisdiction in remote states or federal territories
Criminal courts
Tribunals handling criminal cases
Court of last resort
the last court that may here a case
Courts of record
Any legal proceedings where a written record is kept of court matters and dialogue
Appellate courts
courts hearing appeals emanating from lower courts
amicus curiae
Friend of the court. Persons may initiate petition on behalf of others.
Evarts Act
introduced in 1981, it created circuit courts of appeal to hear appeals emanating from U.S. District courts.
Exclusive jurisdiction
Specific jurisdiction over particular kinds of cases
en banc
“in the bench” refers to a session where all the judges assigned to the court participate.
General trial courts
Any one of several types of courts with diverse jurisdiction to conduct jury trial and decide cases
Judicial review
The authority of a court to limit the power of the executive and legislative branches of the government
Judiciary Act of 1789
a congressional act that provide for 3 level s of courts.
Jurisdiction
the power of a court to hear and and determine a particular type of a case
Original jurisdiction
First authority over a case
Rule of Four
U.S. Supreme Court rule whereby the court grants certiorari only on the agreement of at least four justices
Supreme Court
The federal and state court of last resort
Trial Courts
Courts where guilt or innocence of defendant is established
United States Circuit Courts of Appeal
Appellate courts from which U.S. District court decisions are appealed.
United States District Courts
The basic trials court of federal civil and criminal actions
United States Magistrate
Judges who fulfill the pretrial judicial obligation of the federal courts
Writ of Certiorari
an order of a superior court requesting that the record of an inferior court be brought forward for review or inspection. Literally, “ to be more fully informed”
Federal District Courts
Basic trial courts for the federal government that try all criminal cases.
