Exam 3 Flashcards
The structure of the federal court system was laid out in:
Judiciary Act of 1789
What principle was established in the Supreme Court case of Marbury v. Madison?
judicial review
What typically occurs during a first appearance in the lower courts?
- Reading of charges
- Setting of bail
- The determination of a need for a court appointed attorney
What is the general trial court in the federal system called?
U.S. District Court
The initial petition to the U.S. Supreme Court requests that it issue what type of order to the lower court?
writ of certiorari
What are the responsibilities of the court administrator?
- Maintain court’s budget
- Hire personnel*
- Oversee case flow, space and office equipment
- Manage Jury System
- Creating and maintaining uniform court record systems
- Managing public relations, general info and research
- Serve as liaison w others in the judicial or local govt system
What is the purpose of the courts?
- To do justice
- To appear to do justice
- Due process of law
Primary responsibilities of the prosecutor includes:
- Decide which cases to prosecute
- Evaluate evidence*
- Determine which charges are most likely to end in convictions
- Prosecute the case before the court
Which amendment to the Constitution gives defendants the right to an attorney?
The 6th Amendment
Defense attorneys for indigent offenders who serve in that capacity on a full-time basis are considered:
Public Defenders
Private attorney (for indigent offenders), local bar association, or law firm
Contract system
Private attorneys (for indigent offenders) whose names appear on a list of volunteers Younger and less experienced, minimal compensation
Assigned counsel system
The Eighth amendment ___________
prohibits excessive bail BUT does not
guarantee the right to pretrial release
A type of pretrial release in which a defendant promises to meet certain stated conditions is known as:
Conditional Release
Holding people in jail without bond to ensure both their appearance at trial and the safety of the community is known as:
Preventive Detention
What does a grand jury determine?
whether there is probable cause that a crime has been committed
Types of pleas accepted in the U.S.:
- Guilty
- Not guilty
- Nolo contendere (“No contest” defendant neither admits nor denies the charge.)
- Not guilty by reason of insanity
In the _______________ system, private attorneys whose names appear on a list of volunteers are assigned to represent indigents on a case-by-case basis.
Assigned Counsel
The _________ is the stage at which an accused is informed of the charges and of three constitutionally guaranteed rights: the right to counsel, the right to remain silent, and the right to reasonable bail.
Initial Appearance
Characteristics of U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals?
- No Jury trial
- Only appellate jurisdiction
- Review a case for errors of law, not a fact
The legal motion that allows the defense to discover the basis for the prosecutor’s case is known as ______________.
Discovery
____________ is an interactive process that involves the prosecutor and the defense, who attempt to arrive at a mutually satisfactory disposition of a case without going to trial.
Plea bargaining
5 alternatives to monetary bail
- Release on recognizance
- Conditional release
- Unsecured bail
- Property bail
- Court deposit bail
Types of courts that exist in the federal court system?
- Supreme court
- Appellate court
- General Trial Court
- Federal court
In case of extensive pretrial publicity, which motion is filed asking to move the trial?
motion for change of venue
What is the objective of a motion for discovery?
To gain access to the basic evidence and witnesses against the defendant
What has the greatest influence on case processing?
Seriousness of the offense
What is a common-sense definition of a “public” trial?
A trial that is free for the public to attend
Why might a defendant waive his or her right to a jury trial?
- Excessive media coverage*
- Defendant’s unusual appearance
- Case too complex for jury to understand
- Attorney fees may be lower
- Crime is so heinous
Standard requirements for appointment to a jury:
- US citizenship
- 18 years or older
- ordinary intelligence
- minimum residence in jurisdiction in which trial is being held.
- knowledge of english language
- Able to hear, talk, feel, smell, and be relatively mobile
What is the purpose of the voir dire?
To determine if a person is qualified to serve impartially on the jury