Unit One Vocab: You and the Law

Across

3. in a trial or appeal, the written opinion of the minority of judges who disagree with the majority's decision
5. the process courts use to decide whether laws passed by Congress or state legislators are Constitutional
6. the state or federal government's attorney in a criminal case
10. a procedure in which issues are voted on directly by the citizens rather than their representatives
11. to take away an attorney's license to practice law because of illegal or unethical conduct
14. the study of law
18. a criminal offense punishable by more than a year in prison
21. a formal application of a party to have a lower court decision reviewed by the Supreme Court
22. the provisional in Article 6 of the Constitution stating that U.S. law and treaties must be followed even if state or local laws disagree
26. the standard of proof used in a civil suit, in which one party must provide more compelling evidence than the other
27. an additional written Court opinion where the judge or judges agree with the court's decision but for different reasons
30. the level of proof needed to convict someone of a crime
37. ”to speak the truth”, the screening process in which opposing lawyers question prospective jurors to ensure a favorable or fair jury
38. in a civil case, the person who brings legal action against the alleged wrongdoer
39. the fee paid to an attorney based on a percentage of the sum a client is awarded or settled for in a lawsuit
40. the rule stating that precedent must be followed providing the legal system with stability and predictability

Down

1. what the lawmakers who passed a law wanted it to mean
2. a criminal offense punishable by a year or less in prison
4. the judicial system used in the US, it allows parties to present their legal conflicts before an impartial judge and jury
7. the division of powers between the states and the federal government
8. part of the pre-trial jury selection, attorneys may dismiss a certain number of jurors without reason, without racial discrimination
9. a basic principle of our constitutional system that limits government to powers provided to it by the people
12. a system that allows each branch of government to amend or veto acts of another so no one branch holds all the power
13. a European method for handling disputes in which the judge plays an active role in gathering and presenting evidence and questioning witnesses
15. a division of power within the branches of government
16. a lawsuit against a lawyer for loss or injury to a client because of the lawyer's failure to meet acceptable standards of practice
17. the legal process in which one country or state asks another to surrender a suspected or convicted criminal
19. a trial attorney, barrister
20. written laws enacted by by legislators
23. influencing or persuading legislators to take action and introduce a bill or vote a certain way on a proposed law
24. a mutual agreement between both sides of a civil lawsuit, made before the case goes to court or before final judgment, ends or settles the dispute
25. a court decision on a legal question that provides guidance for future cases with similar questions
28. a part of the jury selection, attorneys may request the removal of jurors they don't think we'll be fair and impartial
29. an advantage, right to preferential treatment, or excuse from a duty others must perform, a right that cannot be taken away
31. a mistake made by a judge in legal proceedings or rulings during a trial that might allow the case to be appealed
32. the first 10 amendments to the Constitution that guarantee basic individual rights to U.S. citizens
33. a down payment made by a client hiring an attorney to act on his or her behalf
34. in a criminal case, the negotiation between the prosecutor, defendant and defendant's attorney
35. basic privileges a person has as a human being
36. the person against whom a claim is made