Judicial Branch Vocabulary

A setting free by judgement of a court; a verdict of not guilty

• Acquital

• Appeal

• Appellate Juridiction

• Certificate

To ask a higher court to review the decision and determine if justice was done

• Acquital

• Appeal

• Appellate Jurisdiction

• Certificate

Authority of court to review a decision of a lower court or administrative agency.

• Acquital

• Appeal

• Appellate Jurisdiction

• Certificate

A method of putting a 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

• Acquital

• Appeal

• Appellate Jurisdiction

• Certificate

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

• Civil Case

• Concurring Opinion

• Dissenting Opinion

• Docket

An opinion that agrees with the majority in a Supreme Court ruling but differs on the reasoning.

• Civil Case

• Concurring Opinion

• Dissenting Opinion

• Docket

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

• Civil Case

• Concurring Opinion

• Dissenting Opinion

• Docket

A court's calendar, showing the schedule of cases it is to hear

• Civil Case

• Concurring Opinion

• Dissenting Opinion

• Docket

A group of citizens that decides whether there is sufficient evidence to accuse someone of a crime.

• Grand Jury

• Inferior Courts

• Judicial Review

• Jurisdiction

The lower federal courts, beneath the Supreme Court

• Grand Jury

• Inferior Courts

• Judicial review

• Jurisdiction