Chapter 7 - Courts and the Quest for Justice

Question 1

jurisdiction

Answer 1

the authority of a court to hear and decide cases within an area of the law or a geographic territory

Question 2

concurrent jurisdiction

Answer 2

the situation that occurs when two or more courts have the authority to preside over the same criminal case

Question 3

extradition

Answer 3

the process by which one jurisdiction surrenders a person accused or convicted of violating another jurisdiction’s criminal law to the second jurisdiction

Question 4

trial courts

Answer 4

courts in which most cases usually begin and in which questions of fact are examined

Question 5

appellate courts

Answer 5

courts that review decisions made by lower courts, such as trial courts; also known as courts of appeals

Question 6

opinions

Answer 6

written statements by the judges expressing the reasons for the court’s decision in a case

Question 7

dual court system

Answer 7

the separate but interrelated court system of the United States, made up of the courts on the national level and the courts on the state level

Question 8

magistrate

Answer 8

a public civil officer or official with limited judicial authority within a particular geographic area, such as the authority to issue an arrest warrant

Question 9

problem-solving courts

Answer 9

lower courts that have jurisdiction over one specific area of criminal activity, such as illegal drugs or domestic violence

Question 10

judicial review

Answer 10

the power of a court - particularly the United States Supreme Court - to review the actions of the executive and legislative branches and, if necessary, declare those actions unconstitutional

Question 11

Writ of Certiorari

Answer 11

a request from a higher court asking a lower court for the record of a case. In essence, the request signals the higher court’s willingness to review the case

Question 12

rule of four

Answer 12

a rule of the Untied States Supreme Court that the court will not issue a writ of certiorari unless at least four justices approve of the decision to hear the case

Question 13

oral arguments

Answer 13

the verbal arguments presented in person by attorneys to an appellate court. Each attorney presents reasons why the court should rule in his or her client’s favor

Question 14

concurring opinions

Answer 14

separate opinions prepared by judges who support the decision of the majority of the court but who want to make or clarify a particular point or to voice disapproval of the grounds on which the decision was made

Question 15

dissenting opinions

Answer 15

separate opinions in which judges disagree with the conclusion reached by the majority of the court and expand on their own views about the case

Question 16

docket

Answer 16

the list of cases entered on a court’s calendar and thus scheduled to be heard by the court

Question 17

partisan elections

Answer 17

elections in which candidates are affiliated with and receive support from political parties

Question 18

nonpartisan elections

Answer 18

elections in which candidates are presented on the ballot without any party affiliation

Question 19

Missouri plan

Answer 19

a method of selecting judges that combines appointments and election

Question 20

courtroom work group

Answer 20

the social organization consisting of the judge, prosecutor, defense attorney, and other court workers

Question 21

public prosecutors

Answer 21

individuals, acting as trial lawyers, who initiate and conduct cases in the government’s name and on behalf of the people

Question 22

attorney general

Answer 22

the chief law officer of a state; also, the chief law officer of the nation

Question 23

defense attorney

Answer 23

the lawyer representing the defendant

Question 24

public defenders

Answer 24

court-appointed attorneys who are paid by the state to represent defendants who are unable to hire private counsel

Question 25

attorney-client privilege

Answer 25

a rule of evidence requiring that communications between a client and his or her attorney be kept confidential, unless the client consents to disclosure