The Judicial Branch

precedent

• Past court decisions that act as 'laws' for lower courts to follow in future cases with similar facts.

• A legal term referring to the first instance of a law being applied.

• A type of evidence that is used in court to support a case.

• A formal agreement between two parties in a legal dispute.

reverse

• A process where a higher court reviews a case and upholds the lower court's decision.

• When a higher court reviews a case and overturns the lower court's decision, declaring that a court ruling is invalid.

• A legal term for when a case is dismissed without a trial.

• The act of sending a case back to a lower court for further proceedings.

judicial review

• The power of the courts to declare laws unconstitutional.

• The ability of the executive branch to veto legislation.

• The process by which laws are created and enacted.

• The authority of Congress to regulate interstate commerce.

Supreme Court

• The highest court in a state or the country, it has the final say on appeals and on how to interpret laws and constitutions.

• A court that handles minor civil disputes and small claims.

• A court that primarily deals with family law and custody issues.

• A court that oversees administrative law and regulatory compliance.

petition

• A formal request for the US Supreme Court to hear a case, which also includes the arguments and evidence generally found in a legal brief.

• A document submitted to a lower court requesting a review of a case.

• A written statement outlining the reasons for a legal appeal.

• A request for a legislative body to consider a new law.

prosecutor

• An attorney who represents the government in a criminal case, and who attempts to show that the defendant is guilty of the charge(s).

• A lawyer who defends individuals accused of crimes.

• A judge who oversees court proceedings and ensures justice is served.

• A legal advisor who provides counsel to law enforcement agencies.

misdemeanor

• A serious crime punishable by more than a year in prison.

• A less serious crime, where the punishment is less than a year in prison, or even just a fine.

• An act that is not considered a crime but is still punishable by law.

• A crime that is punishable by death.

justice (person)

• Official title for a member of the Supreme Court.

• A term used for fairness in legal proceedings.

• A title for a judge in a lower court.

• A designation for a lawyer in private practice.

appeal

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

• To request a new trial in the same court.

• To submit additional evidence to the original court.

• To seek a pardon from the governor.

court of appeals

• Court that reviews civil and criminal cases previously heard by trial courts, usually by a group of three judges, looking for legal mistakes.

• A court that only hears criminal cases at the federal level.

• A court that handles only family law cases.

• A court that is the final authority on all legal matters in the country.