Chapter 18 Vocabul

The authority of a court to review decisions of inferior (lower) courts.

• Concurrent jurisdiction
• Appellate jurisdiction

A case involving a noncriminal matter such as a contract dispute or a claim of patent infringement.

• Civil case
• Criminal case

A court’s list of cases to be heard.

• Plaintiff
• Docket

In civil law, the party who brings a suit or some other legal action against another (the defendant) in court.

• Plaintiff
• Precedent

The power of a court to hear a case first, before any other court.

• Exclusive jurisdiction
• Original jurisdiction

In a civil suit, the person against whom a court action is brought by the plaintiff; in a criminal case, the person charged with a crime.

• Plaintiff
• Defendant

An order by a higher court directing a lower court to send up the record in a given case for review; from the Latin meaning “to be more certain.”

• Redress
• Writ of certiorari

The authority of a court to review decisions of inferior (lower) courts.

• Appellate jurisdiction
• Concurrent jurisdiction

Satisfaction of a claim payment.

• Redress
• Jurisdiction

A method of putting case before the Supreme Court; used when a lower court is not clear about the procedure or rule of law that should apply in a case and asks the Supreme Court to certify the answer to a specific question.

• Inferior Courts
• Certificate