U.S. Court System

When two parties, a prosecutor representing the government and a defense attorney representing the accused, meet in court before a judge or jury in order to present evidence to support their case.

• Voir dire

• Opening statements

• Criminal trial

• Motion limine

A jury is selected

• Voir dire

• Opening statements

• Criminal trial

• Motion limine

Statements about what the respective parties believe the evidence will show

• Voir dire

• Opening statements

• Criminal trial

• Motion limine

Why is a jury foreperson important?

• They assist the judge in hearing evidence.

• They keep the jury deliberations orderly and hand the verdict to the court.

• They testify for the prosecutor.

• They testify for the defendant.

the authority of a court to hear and decide cases within an area of the law or a geographical territory:

• Motion limine

• Voir dire

• Appeal

• Jurisdiction

to take your case to a higher court if you disagree with the verdict:

• Motion limine

• Voir dire

• Appeal

• Jurisdiction

This court focuses on cases about minors (people under the age of 18)

• County Court

• Circut Court

• Family Court

• Juvenile Court

This court focuses on misdemeanors (less serious crimes) and civil disagreements up to $1000

• County Court

• Circut Court

• Family Court

• Juvenile Court

This court focuses on a wide variety of cases and hears appeals from lower state courts.

• County Court

• Circut Court

• Family Court

• Juvenile Court

This court hears appeals from the U.S. Court of Appeals as well as the highest court in a state involving federal law or the Constitution. 

• U.S. District Court

• U.S. Supreme Court 

• Circuit Court

• U.S. Court of Appeals