court system Flashcards
Attorney General
The top law enforcement officer in the state
Criminal Law
Legal cases brought by the sate intending to punish violations of the law
Civil Law
Legal cases that involve disputes between private parties
Trial Court
The first level of the court system
Bench Trials
A trial in which no jury is present and the judge decides the facts as well as the law
Prosecutor
A government official and lawyer who conducts criminal cases on behalf of the people
Public Defender
A government lawyer who provides free legal services to persons accused of crimes who cannot afford to hire lawyers
Intermediate Appellate Court
A court that reviews cases to find possible errors in their proceedings
Legal Brief
A document stating legal facts and arguments
State Supreme Court
The highest level of appeals court in a state. The final arbiter of what that state’s law means
