Judicial Process Flashcards
Criminal law
- regulates behavior
- Through their legislators,
- decide cannot be tolerated. Criminal law sets forth the types of behavior deemed criminal, establishes the rules governing the apprehension, prosecution and defense of people who are suspected of committing crimes.
What does Criminal law set forth?
- the types of behavior deemed criminal,
What does criminal law establish?
- The rules governing the:
- apprehension
- prosecution
- and defense of people who are
suspected of committing crimes.
Jurisdiction of Federal Courts
- courts of limited jurisdiction
- jurisdiction granted by constitution or legislative act
Federal Courts handle what cases?
- Us constitutional law questions
- laws and treaties
- disputes in which the us is a participant
- disputes between states
What is the Highest Court of the Land
U.S Supreme Court
How and when was the Supreme court established?
the Judiciary act of 1789
Who appoints and confirms the U.S Supreme Court Members
Appointed by President and Confirmed by congress
How many Federal Circuit Courts are there
13
What Circuit is Colorado in?
10th Circuit Court
10th Circuit Court has how many judges?
19
how many chief judges?
1
How many Senior Judges
8
How many Regular judges
11
How many US District Court of Colorado
7 regular judges
9 senior judges
8 magistrates
Established by the Judiciary act of 1789
Supreme Court (1) (7 Judges)
Court of Appeals (1) (22 Judges)
District Courts (22)
County Courts (64)
Municipal Courts (250)
District Court
- Civil Cases (any amount)
- Domestic Relations
- Juvenile
- Probate
- Mental health
- Appeal up to Appeals Court or Supreme
Court
County Court
- Civil up to 25,000
- Protection order
- small claims
- court of appeal up to District Court
Federalism
- Two concurrent governing authorities
- This was to prevent the federal authority
from getting too powerful
State and Federal Courts
- Both courts can rule on matters of state and federal law
What courts handle the majority of the criminal cases
State
Who are the final arbiters on state law and state constitutions?
State
(Subject to federal preemption)
Who may review on appeal state courts interpretation of federal laws
Federal
Prosecutor
- Seek truth and Justice
- Represent the public interest
- Make charging decision
- Bears Burden of Proof
Defense
- Represent the accused
- attempting to create reasonable doubts
- Constitutional and Procedural rule
- Prove affirmative defense
Prosecution
district attorney, states attorney, us attorney, muicipal attorney
What is the Duty of the Prosection
Duty = Seek Justice
What forms of Prosecutorial Discretion is there?
- What charges, if any, to bring =
- reasonable likelihood of conviction (not
merely probable cause) Who to charge - Disposition of charges
- Sentencing recommendations
How many Judicial Districts are there in Colorado?
22 Judicial Districts