Courts and Court Systems

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Across
  1. 2. Statements by a witness who did not see or hear the incident in question but heard it from someone else. Hearsay is usually not admissible in court.
  2. 3. The process by which judges and lawyers select a jury from among those eligible to serve, by questioning them to determine knowledge of the facts of the case and a willingness to decide the case only on the evidence presented in court. “Voir dire” is a phrase meaning “to speak the truth,”
  3. 7. In a criminal case, the defendant’s statement pleading “guilty” or “not guilty” in answer to the charges, a declaration made in open court.
  4. 8. A hearing that takes when the defendant pleads “not guilty” and witnesses are required to come to court to give evidence.
  5. 10. A body of citizens who listen to evidence of criminal allegations, which are presented by the government and determines whether there is probable cause to believe the offense was committed. As it is used in federal criminal cases, “the government” refers to the lawyers of the U.S. attorney’s office who are prosecuting the case.
  6. 13. Usually a petty offense, a less serious crime than a felony, punishable by less than a year of confinement.
  7. 14. A sentencing alternative to imprisonment in which the court releases convicted defendants under supervision as long as certain conditions are observed.
  8. 16. An oral statement made before an officer authorized by law to administer oaths. Such statements are often taken to examine potential witnesses, to obtain discovery, or to be used later in trial.
Down
  1. 1. The decision of a petit jury of a judge.
  2. 4. A reason that an attorney interrupts a witness to talk to the judge.
  3. 5. Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder to decide the case for one side or the other.
  4. 6. A crime carrying a penalty of more than a year in prison.
  5. 9. Questioning of a witness by the attorney for the other side.
  6. 11. A judgment of guilt against a criminal defendant.
  7. 12. A request made after a trial, asking another court (usually the court of appeals) to decide whether the trial was conducted properly.
  8. 15. Security given for the release of a criminal defendant or witness from legal custody (usually in the form of money) to secure his/her appearance on the day and time appointed.