A court's authority to hear or decide upon a case

• circuit

• opinion

• predendent

• jurisdiction

The authority to hear cases for the first time

• Exclusive jurisdiction

• Concurrent jurisdiction

• Original jurisdiction

• Appellate jurisdiction

The practice of using earlier judicial rulings as a basis for deciding cases "let the decision stand"

• stare decisis

• state decides

• brief

• opinion

A written document explaining the position of one side or the other in a case

• docket

• brief

• opinion

• precedent

A statement written by a justice who disagrees with the majority opinion, presenting his or her opinion

• majority opinion

• opinion

• dissenting opinion

• concurring opinion

A ruling that is used as the basis for a judicial decision in a later, similar case

• stare decisis

• opinion

• precedent

• district

A court that reviews decisions made in lower district courts

• District

• Federal

• Circuit

• Appellate

A court's calendar

• brief

• docket

• Constitutional

• Exclusive

Federal trial courts; lawsuits begin here

• Appeals

• Circuit

• District

• Superior

The authority of both state and federal courts to hear and decide cases

• original jurisdiction

• appellate jurisdiction

• concurrent jurisdiction

• exclusive jurisdiction