US Gov Judicial Branch

appeals court

a court whose jurisdiction is to review decisions of lower courts or agencies; not a new trial, checking for trial errors

constitutional court

a federal court authorized by Article III of the Constitution that keeps judges in office during good behavior and prevents their salaries from being reduced. They are the Supreme Court (created by the Constitution) and appellate and district courts created by Congress.

inferior courts

The lower federal courts, beneath the Supreme Court

precedent

a ruling that is used as the basis for a judicial decision in a later, similar case

dissenting opinion

an opinion disagreeing with the majority decision in a Supreme Court ruling; may be looked at in the future

concurring opinion

an opinion that agrees with the majority in a Supreme Court ruling but differs on the reasoning

concurrent jurisdiction

authority for both state and federal courts to hear and decide cases

exclusive jurisdiction

authority of only federal courts to hear and decide cases

treason

levying war against the US; adhering to the enemy; giving aid and comfort to the enemy

court in conference

meeting of the full Court to discuss cases heard in oral arguments; Chief Justice presides

judicial activism

A philosophy of judicial decision making that argues judges should use their power broadly to further justice, especially in the areas of equality and personal liberty.

special courts

Federal courts that hear matters of specialized or limited jurisdiction; ex. Tax Court, Territorial Courts, courts of the District of Columbia

Chief Justice of the Supreme Court

John Roberts

U.S. Magistrates

Judges appointed by U.S. District Court judges to conduct pretrial hearings and trials for minor civil and criminal offenses in Federal Court; 8 year terms

stare decisis

Let the decision stand; decisions are based on precedents from previous cases

majority opinion

Officially called the Opinion of the Court; announces the Court's decision in a case and sets out the reasoning upon which it is based

writ of certiorari

Order by the Supreme Court directing a lower court to send up the records of a case for review

appellate jurisdiction

The authority of a court to review decisions made by lower courts

Supreme Court jurisdiction

cases involving officials of other nations and cases involving states

federal court jurisdiction

deal with cases involving US laws, treaties with foreign nations, or interpretations of the Constitution, ambassadors, maritime laws, between states

briefs

documents setting out the arguments in legal cases, prepared by attorneys and presented to courts

rule of 4

four or more justices must vote to hear a case, then the case will be heard (granted certiorari)

Supreme Court

highest Federal court

Court of Appeals

highest court in Maryland

Solicitor General

the Justice Department officer who argues the government's cases before the Supreme Court; decides what cases the fed gov wants the Supreme Court to review and what it's position will be

jurisdiction

the authority of a court to hear a case

original jurisdiction

the authority to hear cases for the first time

trial court

the first court to hear a criminal or civil case; consider evidence and make judgments based on facts, law and precedent

judicial restraint

the philosophy that the Supreme Court should avoid taking the initiative on social and political questions; use the original intent of the framers; use of precedents

30 minutes

time limit for oral arguments before the Supreme Court

Federal District Court

trial court of the federal court system; most cases heard here