Chapter 5: The Court System In Texas Flashcards
state decisis
court decisions depending on previous rulings of other courts
objectivity
the appearance that courts make objective decisions and not political ones
trial courts
local courts that hear cases; juries determine the outcome of the cases heard in the court
appellate courts
higher-level courts that decide on points of the law and not questions of guilt or innocence
magistrate functions
preliminary hearings for persons charged with a serious criminal offense
trial de novo courts
courts that do not keep a written record of their proceedings; cases on appeal begin as new cases in the appellate courts
merit system. or Missouri system
a system of electing judges that involves appointment by the governor and periodic retention election
partisan election
method used to select all judges (except municipal court judges) in Texas by using a ballot in which party identification is shown
nonpartisan election
election in which party identification is not formally declared
name familiarity
practice in Texas of voting for judges with familiar or popular names
straight ticket voting system
system that allows voters to vote for all candidates of a single political party by making a single mark and that has resulted in an increase in the number of Republican judges
appointed-elective system
In Texas, the system of many judges getting the initial seat on the court by being appointed and later standing for election
grand juries
juries of citizens that determine if a person will be charged with a crime
information of administrative hearing
a hearing before a judge who decides if a person must stand trial; used on place of a grand jury
petit jury
juries of citizens that determine the guilt or innocence of a person during a trial; pronounced petty juries
