Chapter 9 - Texas Government Vocabulary
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
