Lesson 1- 4 Flashcards
Lesson 1 Things you will want to remember about your legal case Lesson 2 What is incompetent to stand trial Lesson 3 Understanding roles, where people sit Lesson 4 Understanding roles, what people do
What does “IST” mean?
“Incompetent to Stand Trial”
What are you charged with?
What is your possible maximum sentence?
What is the name of your attorney?
What is the name of your psychiatrist?
Pechal
True or False: You can go back to court without a report from the hospital.
False
How do you contact your attorney?
What do people watching the trial do?
They sit and watch the trial.
What is the name of the lawyer on your side? This person is paid to defend you and is trying to prove that you are not guilty. They are also trying to get you a light sentence if you are found guilty.
Defender (Defense Lawyer, Defense Attorney, Public Defender, “PD”)
A person who may know something about what you did or didn’t do. This person will testify from the witness stand, answering questions asked by both lawyers.
Witness
The person who is accepted by the court as an expert about a particular subject. Psychiatrists and psychologists are usually considered to be these when they are testifying.
Expert witness
An employee of the court who keeps order and announces events
Bailiff
An employee of the court who acts as a secretary for the judge and keeps track of what’s going on, schedule’s work, and so forth
Clerk
A person who makes a word for word record (a transcript) of everything official that goes on during a hearing or trial
Court reporter
A group of people who sit in the court room, hear the testimony and evidence, and make the decision if you are “guilty” or “not guilty.” They all have to agree.
Jury
How many jurors are present for a felony trial?
12
How many jurors present for a misdemeanor trial?
6
What does the jury do?
Listens to the evidence and finds the defendant guilty or not guilty.
What will the district attorney (prosecutor) do?
Try to put you in jail or have you pay a big fine
What do the witnesses do?
They answer questions about the case and tell what they saw or heard.
You are incompetent to stand trial if
you can’t understand something important you need to understand to defend yourself in court or
you can not think, speak, or understand rationally.
What’s the name of the person with a law degree who knows a lot about the law and courtroom rules and how to argue a case in court?
Lawyer (Attorney, Counselor)
What is the name of the lawyer against you?
Prosecutor (prosecuting attorney, prosecuting lawyer, state’s attorney, D.A.)
You can go to trial on the charges after being found competent by who?
The judge
Who is the “boss” of the court? This person issues orders and sets dates for hearings and trials.
The judge
