Court Systems & Structures

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Across
  1. 4. process of choosing potential jurors by disqualifying biased people who cannot be neutral or fair
  2. 8. are divided into trial courts and appellate courts
  3. 10. to be released from criminal charges
  4. 17. only hear civil cases; hear cases involving a limited amount of money; only allow damages of up to $3,000 to be recovered
  5. 18. reasonable doubt is not required
  6. 19. records the official record of the trial; these word-for-word transcripts are used in appeals
  7. 20. person against whom a crime has been committed
  8. 21. neutral panels established by government agencies to settle a variety of disputes among different parties of people and businesses
  9. 25. agreement between the plaintiff and the defendant to end the dispute
  10. 27. final ruling by the judge based on the evidence presented in the discovery, often requested by the defendant to avoid going to trial
  11. 28. occurs when the judge determines there is no issue of fact or law, effectively ending the case
  12. 33. dispute between two or more parties consisting of the first party, or plaintiff accusing the second party, or defendant, of causing injury or damage to the
  13. 35. considered a reviewing court and determine appeals from the decisions of the trial courts; are generally called Supreme Courts of the State as they are the highest level of court system within a state
  14. 36. includes the right of each party to obtain and present witnesses and evidence (such as documents and physical objects)
Down
  1. 1. decide more than 95 percent of the nation’s legal cases; can handle cases which may appeal all the way to the federal court level if a federal issue is
  2. 2. officer in charge of the court proceeding; ensures all evidence used in the trial is legal, instructs the jury and typically provides the sentence when a defendant is convicted
  3. 3. when one party fails to perform under the requirements of a valid agreement with another party (contracts can be written or verbal)
  4. 5. consists of opening statements by attorneys, direct and cross-examination of
  5. 6. attorney who is hired or appointed by the state or federal government to represent the plaintiff or the state
  6. 7. occurs when parties disclose any evidence obtained proving the argued facts; used to push for settlements between parties so trial does not have to take place or to make trials more effective
  7. 9. introduces the evidence and facts from the pleadings and pretrial procedure
  8. 11. argument between the two parties regarding the events which took place and caused the lawsuit to arise
  9. 12. transfer of a case from a lower to a higher level for a new hearing
  10. 13. law has been broken requiring the state to bring charges against the offender; there must not be any reasonable doubt of guilt
  11. 14. represents the defendant and ensures the defendant is protected according to the law
  12. 15. and closing arguments by attorneys
  13. 16. responsible for deciding what is true in a case and in a criminal case, deciding whether or not the defendant has committed a crime
  14. 22. party denying or defending against allegations made by the plaintiff
  15. 23. party initiating a lawsuit against an organization or individual
  16. 24. argument between the two parties in regards to which legal rules apply to the facts stated in the pleading
  17. 26. jury’s final decision based on all of the facts and evidence presented in the trial
  18. 29. determines the outcome of the case
  19. 30. hear all criminal cases other than minor offenses; can also be called county, district, superior, circuit or common pleas courts; keep thorough formal records of proceedings in order to have documentation if needed for appeals; do not have a limitation on the dollar amount of damages
  20. 31. first official court appearance for the defendant; used to inform defendant of official criminal charges, take defendants plea, negotiate bail if necessary and set up dates for further proceedings
  21. 32. court officer responsible for giving out subpoenas, escorting defendants from jail to the courtroom, representing the jury to the judge and protecting safety of all in the courtroom
  22. 34. series of formal, written statements in which the plaintiff and defendant both state claims for defense regarding the matter being disputed