Across
- 2. an attorney who represents the government in a criminal case
- 3. a Latin term meaning “let the decision stand”; refers to the principle that courts should follow precedent
- 4. special skill or knowledge in a particular field
- 8. courts that are able to hear a wide variety of cases that deal with state or local law, the state constitution, or federal law or the federal constitution
- 9. the person against whom a civil or criminal suit is brought in court
- 10. the power of the Supreme Court to declare laws and actions of local, state, or national governments unconstitutional
- 13. a group of citizens who hear evidence during a trial and give a verdict
- 14. a trial system that is a contest between opposing sides
- 15. the authority of a trial court to be the first to hear a case
- 17. similar to criminal trials but consists of judges and attorneys drawn from legal officers of the military branch in which the violation occurred
- 20. a party in a lawsuit
- 22. in a civil trial, the person who brings suit in court
- 25. a document issued by judges who agree with the majority opinion, but for different reasons than those used to support the majority opinion
- 27. explanation
- 30. states the decision of the court
- 31. existing or coming about seemingly at random or by chance
- 33. court that hears cases about crimes such as burglary, murder, or driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
- 35. the subjecting of a person to a second trial or punishment for the same offense for which the person has already been tried or punished
- 36. a document issued by judges who disagree with the majority opinion
- 38. the courts that hear criminal and civil cases operating within the tribal justice system
- 39. attorney who works for the state and defends people who cannot afford a private attorney
- 40. a federal law; a law written by a legislative branch
Down
- 1. enough to meet the needs of a situation or a proposed end; enough; satisfactory in amount
- 5. a mistake by a judge as to the applicable law in a case
- 6. a group that hears charges against a suspect and decides whether there is sufficient evidence to bring the person to trial
- 7. an agreement whereby a defendant pleads guilty to a lesser crime than the one with which the defendant was originally charged, and in return the government agrees not to prosecute the defendant for the more serious crime
- 11. the idea that no individual, group, organization, or governmental entity is above the law
- 12. a modifying of influencing factor
- 16. the divisions under the United States Federal Courts system, grouped into 12 regional circuits, each of which has a federal court of appeals, also called a U.S. Circuit Court
- 18. the act of continuing to hold or have, as in a political position
- 19. a ruling on a law that has not yet been challenged in court
- 21. the fair administration of justice
- 23. an unsuccessful party in a lawsuit asks a higher court to review the decision on the basis that the original court did not apply the law correctly or the trial was not fair
- 24. a trial system in which the judge plays an active role in gathering evidence
- 26. courts that generally hear cases that raise questions about a federal law or the federal constitution
- 28. something that has separate and distinct existence
- 29. court that hears cases in which one person or group thinks another person or group should pay for causing harm
- 32. a legal principle created by an appellate court decision that lower court judges must follow when deciding similar cases
- 34. a formal charge of criminal action by a grand jury
- 37. unbiased