Chapter 9 - Texas Government Vocabulary

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statutory county courts of law

courts that tend to hear less serious cases than those heard by district courts

plea bargain

negotiated agreement in a criminal case in which a defendant agrees to plead guilty in return for the state's agreement to reduce the severity of the criminal charge or prison sentence the defendant is facing

en banc

referring to an appellate hearing with all judges participating

courts of appeal

the 14 intermediate-level appellate courts that hear appeals from district and county courts to determine whether the decisions of these lower courts followed legal principles and court procedures

beyond a reasonable doubt

the legal standard in criminal cases, which requires the prosecution to prove that a reasonable doubt of innocence does not exist

district courts

the major trial courts in Texas, which usually have general jurisdiction over a broad range of civil and criminal cases

capital case

a criminal case in which the death penalty is a possible punishment

civil law

a branch of law that deals with disputes, usually between private individuals over relationships, obligations, and responsibility

contingent free

a fee paid to the lawyer in a civil case which is contingent on winning the case

Judicial Campaign Fairness Act

a judicial reform that places limits on judicial campaign contributions

merit selection

a judicial reform under which judges would be nominated by a blue-ribbon committee, would be appointed by the governor, and, after a brief period in office, would run in a retention election

misdemeanor

a minor criminal offense, usually punishable by a fine or a jail sentence

ordinance

a regulation enacted by a city government each of Texas's incorporated cities and towns

felony

a serious criminal offense, punishable by a prison sentence or a fine. A capital felony is possibly punishable by death

bench trial

a trial held without a jury and before only a judge,

indictment

a written statement issued by a grand jury that charges a suspect with a crime and states that a trial is warranted

retention election

an election in which voters decide whether to keep an incumbent in office by voting "yes" or "no" to retain the incumbent and where there is no opposing candidate

grand jury

jury that determines whether sufficient evidence is available to justify a trial; grand juries do not rule on the accused's guilt or innocence

justice of the peace courts

local trial courts with limited jurisdiction over small claims and very minor criminal misdemeanors

municipal courts

local trial courts with limited jurisdiction over violations of city ordinances and very minor criminal misdemeanors

statutory probate courts

specialized courts whose jurisdiction is limited to probate and guardianship matters

criminal law

the branch of law that regulates the conduct of individuals, defines crimes, and specifies punishment for criminal acts

county courts

the courts that exist in some counties that are presided over by county judges

Texas Supreme Court

the highest civil court in Texas; consists of nine justices and has final state appellate authority over civil cases

Texas Court of Criminal Appeals

the highest criminal court in Texas; consists of nine justices and has final state appellate authority over criminal cases

county judge

the person in each of Texas's 254 counties who presides over the county court and the county commissioners' court, with responsibility for the administration of county government; some county judges carry out judicial responsibilities

answer

the presentation of a defendant's defense against an allegation in a civil case

complaint

the presentation of a grievance by the plaintiff in a civil case

preponderance of the evidence

the standard of proof in a civil jury case, by which the plaintiff must show that the defendant is more likely than not the cause of the harm suffered by the plaintiff


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