vocabulary Flashcards
inferior courts
the lower federal courts, beneath the supreme court
jurisdiction
the authority of a court to hear a case
exclusive jurisdiction
power of the federal courts alone to hear certain cases.
concurrent jurisdiction
power shared by federal ans state courts to hear certain cases
plaintiff
in civil war the party who brings a suit or some other legal action against another in court.
defendant
in a civil suit, the person against whom a court action is brought by the plaintiff; in a criminal case the person charged with a crime.
original jurisdiction
the power of a court to hear a case first, before any other court.
appellate jurisdiction
the authority of a court to review decisions of inferior courts
criminal case
a case in which a defendant is tried for committing a crime as defined by the law
civil case
a case involving a noncriminal matter such as a contract dispute or a claim of patent infrigement
docket
a court’s list of cases to be heard
writ of certiorari
an order by a higher court directing a lower court to send up the record in a given case for review.
certificate
a method of putting a case before the supreme court
majority opinion
hg
precedent
h
