DIEGO MAGALLON P.1

INFERIOR COURTS

• An inferior court is a court of limited jurisdiction, and it must appear on the face of its proceedings that it has jurisdiction, or its proceedings. will be void

PRECEDENT

• an earlier event or action that is regarded as an example or guide to be considered in subsequent similar circumstances

GRAND JURY

• a jury, normally of twenty-three jurors, selected to examine the validity of an accusation before trial

JURISDICTION

• the official power to make legal decisions and judgments

CONCURRING OPINION

• certain legal systems a written opinion by one or more judges of a court which agrees with the decision made by the majority of the court, but states different (or additional) reasons as the basis for his or her decision

DISSENTING OPINION

• an opinion in a legal case in certain legal systems written by one or more judges expressing disagreement with the majority opinion of the court which gives rise to its judgment. When not necessarily referring to a legal decision, this can also be referred to as a minority report.

INDICTMENT

• a formal charge or accusation of a serious crime

PLAINTIFF

• a person who brings a case against another in a court of law

DEFENDANT

• an individual, company, or institution sued or accused in a court of law

DOUBLE JEOPARDY

• the prosecution of a person twice for the same offense

MAJORITY OPINION

• a judicial opinion agreed to by more than half of the members of a court. A majority opinion sets forth the decision of the court and an explanation of the rationale behind the court's decision. ... Normally, appellate courts (or panels) are staffed with an odd number of judges to avoid a tie.

MIRANDA RULE

• concept in criminal law that applies to police interrogations of person who have been taken into custody. The term "Miranda" stems from the famous case, "Miranda v. Arizona" (1966). This case discussed the admissibility of statements obtained during interrogation

EXCLUSIVE JURISDICRION

• refers to power of a court to adjudicate a case to the exclusion of all other courts. It is the sole forum for determination of a particular type of case. Exclusive jurisdiction is decided on the basis of the subject matter dealt with by a particular court.

REDRESS

• remedy or set right (an undesirable or unfair situation)

BAIL

• the temporary release of an accused person awaiting trial, sometimes on condition that a sum of money be lodged to guarantee their appearance in court.

ORIGINAL JURISDICTION

• a court is the power to hear a case for the first time, as opposed to appellate jurisdiction, when a higher court has the power to review a lower court's decision.

CAPITAL PUNISHMENT

• the legally authorized killing of someone as punishment for a crime

APPELLATE JURISDICTION

• the power of a higher court to review decisions and change outcomes of decisions of lower courts. Most appellate jurisdiction is legislatively created, and may consist of appeals by leave of the appellate court or by right.

CONCURRENT JURISDICTION

• the ability to exercise judicial review by different courts at the same time, within the same territory, and over the same subject matter. For instance, a domestic violence matter may be heard in either a general civil court or a family court in the same county.

CIVIL LIBERTIES

• the state of being subject only to laws established for the good of the community, especially with regard to freedom of action and speech

JIM CROW LAW

• state and local laws enforcing racial segregation in the Southern United States. Enacted after the Reconstruction period, these laws continued in force until 1965

SEPARATE BUT EQUAL DOCTORINE

• racially segregated but ostensibly ensuring equal opportunities to all races

WRIT OF CERTIORARI

• name given to certain appellate proceedings for re-examination of actions of a trial court, or inferior appeals court

WRIT OF HABEAS CORPUS

• An agreement among soverneign states that delegates certain powers to a national government. Writ of Habeas Corpus. A court order requiring police officials to produce an individual held in custody and show sufficient cause for that person's detention