Unit 8 Vocabulary

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Across
  1. 3. Type of court that 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 involved; are divided into trial courts and appellate courts
  2. 7. Type of court 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
  3. 9. Series of formal, written statements in which the plaintiff and defendant both state claims for defense regarding the matter being disputed
  4. 12. argument between the two parties in regards to which legal rules apply to the facts stated in the pleading (3 words)
  5. 13. agreement between the plaintiff and the defendant to end the dispute
  6. 14. 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
  7. 16. party denying or defending against allegations made by the plaintiff
  8. 19. attorney who is hired or appointed by the state or federal government to represent the plaintiff or the state
  9. 21. Type of 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 plaintiff; reasonable doubt is not required
  10. 23. Type of court that hears 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
  11. 24. Reporter records the official record of the trial; these word-for-word transcripts are used in appeals (2 words)
  12. 25. 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
Down
  1. 1. process of choosing potential jurors by disqualifying biased people who cannot be neutral or fair (2 words)
  2. 2. Type of case where law has been broken requiring the state to bring charges against the offender; there must not be any reasonable doubt of guilt
  3. 4. 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
  4. 5. represents the defendant and ensures the defendant is protected according to the law
  5. 6. Type of civil case involving a limited amount of money; only allow damages of up to $3,000 to be recovered (2 words)
  6. 8. party initiating a lawsuit against an organization or individual
  7. 10. includes the right of each party to obtain and present witnesses and evidence (such as documents and physical objects)
  8. 11. jury’s final decision based on all of the facts and evidence presented in the trial
  9. 15. argument between the two parties regarding the events which took place and caused the lawsuit to arise (3 words)
  10. 17. transfer of a case from a lower to a higher level for a new hearing
  11. 18. responsible for deciding what is true in a case and in a criminal case, deciding whether or not the defendant has committed a crime
  12. 20. to be released from criminal charges
  13. 22. person against whom a crime has been committed