Final Review Flashcards
Stare Decisis - What is the Latin meaning?
Shortened latin term meaning “to stand by precedents and not disturb settled points”
Binding Precedent - What are the 3 considerations?
Precedent is mandatory if you determine these considerations:
1-whether the earlier case arose out of the same jurisdiction; and
2-whether the earlier case arose out of a higher court; and/or
3-whether the case is factually similar and whether it applies the same law (Lawyer’s “bread & Butter”).
Persuasive or Non-Binding Precedent - What does it refer to?
Refers to a case the court may follow or consider, but is not required to follow.
Usually considered if the issue of law was not previously litigated in the particular jurisdiction, so the court will look to other cases for guidance.
What does “Vertical System” refer to?
State courts must follow precedents form higher courts in the same jurisdiction.
Federal courts bound by higher courts in the same jurisdiction but they are separate systems.
Common Law - What is the definition / what are the primary sources?
Judicial decisions from judges.
Enacted Law - What is the definition / what are the primary sources?
Statutes, constitutions, administrative regulations.
Relationship of Primary Authority - What are four concepts from highest to lowest?
Constitutions
Statutes
Case Law
Administrative Decisions
Relationship of Primary Authority - What can “Constitutions” put constraints on?
May place constraints on state statutes and case opinions that are contradictory.
Relationship of Primary Authority - What can “Statutes” put constraints on?
May constrain case law and administrative regulations or rulings;
But a court may still interpret meaning of a statute or constitutional provision to determine if it applies.
Relationship of Primary Authority - What can “Case law” put constraints on?
May constrain administrative decisions.
Holding vs. Dicta - What are they and what is the difference?
Holding: Statement in the court’s decision answering the issues before the court. A holding is limited to the court’s statements resolving the necessary question actually at issue.
Dicta: Remarks that are not essential to the holding. They can be statements about principles of law or statements about how the law may apply in hypothetical facts.
Courts bound by precedent are only bound by the holdings of prior cases, they are not bound by dicta.
*A judge may choose to follow dicta, (persuasive not binding) but is never bound to do so.
In some cases dicta may be debatable. Dictum or Holding is completely dependent on the case at hand.
Is this Dictum or Holding? - An item must be physically delivered unless physical delivery would be impracticable.
Holding
Is this Dictum or Holding? - An item locked in a safe deposit box in a bank closed for the weekend need not be physically delivered.
Dictum
Is this Dictum or Holding? - A small, light, freely accessible item must be physically delivered in order to complete a valid gift.
Holding
Is this Dictum or Holding? - To constitute a valid gift of personal property, the donor must manifest his intention to make the gift.
Dictum (This example is a true statement of law, but it’s not the issue/not in dispute.
What is the following list of components a format of?
To
From
Re
Question Presented
Brief Answer
Statement of Facts
Discussion (most important section)
Conclusion
A Memorandum (memo)
What are two ways memos are kept objective?
1 - They should not be argumentative.
2 - The facts should be neutral.
What are the three branches of the American legal system and what do they do?
Executive Branch: creates administrative law
Legislative Branch: creates statutory law
Judicial Branch: interprets law & creates common law
What are examples of Federal Primary Sources of Law:
The Constitution of the United States
Federal Statutes
Federal Administrative Regulations & Decisions
Federal Court Decisions
What are examples of State Primary Sources of Law:
State Constitutions
State Statutes
State Administrative Regulations & Decisions
State Court Decisions
What is an example of
Judge-made Primary Sources of Law:
Case Law
What is an example of
Enacted Primary Sources of Law:
Statutes
Constitutions
Administrative Regulations
Two components of Common Law
In its most basic definition - judge made law.
Follows rules that courts made in the past.
Which has the greatest precedential value?
A state statute or an opinion of that state’s highest court?
state statute
Which has the greatest precedential value?
An agency regulation or a state statute?
state statute
Which has the greatest precedential value?
A state constitutional provision or a state statute?
state constitutional provision
Which has the greatest precedential value?
An opinion of the state’s highest court or ruling by a state agency?
an opinion of the state’s highest court
Which has the greatest precedential value?
State constitutional provision or an opinion of the state’s highest court?
state constitutional provision
True or False: The Legal system requires Predictability
Consistency
Guidance for the past
False: The Legal system requires Predictability
Consistency
Guidance for the future
Binding Precedent: When a higher court makes a ruling, it is considered binding to all lower courts within the same jurisdiction and also the same what?
Same fact pattern
True or False: American citizens have a right to be heard by the U.S. Supreme Court.
False: No one has a right to be heard by the U.S. Supreme Court, their review is discretionary.
What U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals is Texas in?
5th
What U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals is Alaska in?
9th
What U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals is North Dakota in?
8th
What U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals is Utah in?
10th
What U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals is Mississippi in?
5th
What U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals is Georgia in?
11th
What U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals is Alabama in?
11th
What U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals is West Virginia in?
4th
What U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals is New Hampshire in?
1st
What U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals is Massachusetts in?
1st
What U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals is Rhode Island in?
1st
What U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals is Connecticut in?
2nd
What U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals is Vermont in?
2nd
What U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals is New York in?
2nd
What U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals is New Jersey in?
3rd
What U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals is Delaware in?
3rd
What U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals is Pennsylvania in?
3rd
What U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals is Ohio in?
6th
What U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals is Tennessee in?
6th
What U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals is Kentucky in?
6th
What U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals is Michigan in?
6th
What U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals is Wisconsin in?
7th
What U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals is Illinois in?
7th
What U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals is Indiana in?
7th
What are the four categories of U.S. federal courts?
Supreme Court
Appellate Courts
Trial Courts
Outside Judicial Branch Courts & entities
How many U.S. appellate courts are there (U.S. Courts of Appeals)?
12 Regional Circuit Courts and 1 U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.
What U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals is Puerto Rico in?
1st
What U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals are the U.S. Virgin Islands in?
3rd
What U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals is Guam in?
9th
How many federal U.S District Court judicial districts are there?
94 Judicial Districts
What are the 4 types of Federal trial courts?
U.S. District Courts
U.S. Bankruptcy Courts
U.S. Courts of International Trade
U.S. Courts of Federal Claims
What are the “Outside Judicial Branch” Federal Courts and entities?
Military Courts (Trial & Appellate)
Court of Veterans Appeals
U.S. Tax Court
Federal administrative agencies and boards