Unit 9 Flashcards
The power to declare congressional (and presidential) acts invalid because they violate the Constitution
judicial review
Court Cases involving a crime, or violation of public order
Criminal Cases
Court cases that involve a private dispute arising from such matters as accidents, contractual obligations, and divorce
Civil Cases
A defendant’s admission of guilt in exchange for a less severe punishment
Plea-bargain
(Judge-made law) legal precedents derived from previous judicial decisions
Common Law
Courts within the lower tier of the three-tiered federal court system, court where litigation begins
US District Courts
Courts within the second tier of the three-tiered federal court system, to which decisions of the district courts and federal agencies may be appealed for review
US Courts of Appeals
Regions in which certain courts can hear cases from.
Circuit
Written reports presented to judges in the Appellate Court
Briefs
A judicial ruling that serves as the basis for the ruling in a subsequent case
Precedent
Literally, “let the decision stand”; decision making according to precedent
Stare Decisis
The authority of a court to hear a case before any other court does
Original Jurisdiction
The authority of a court to hear cases that have been tried, decided, or reexamined in other courts.
Appellate Jurisdiction
A court’s agenda
Docket
a litigant seeking review asks the Court “to become informed” of the lower-court proceeding.
Certiorari
