Font size
WorksheetsUnderstanding State Courts and Litigation
Total questions: 46
Worksheet time: 24mins
What is the most liked branch of state government according to the prompt?
Executive
Judiciary
Legislative
Administrative
Why is public understanding of the judiciary weaker compared to other branches?
Judges are more visible in media
Judges preside over technicalities of law
Judges are elected by the public
Judges have no specialization
What is required to become a judge at the state level?
A degree in political science
A law degree/JD
A degree in public administration
No specific degree is required
Which state ranks first in the number of cases filed in 2018?
California
New York
Texas
Florida
Approximately how many attorneys were there in Texas according to the prompt?
50,000
75,000
108,000
150,000
What percentage of the world's lawyers does the United States have?
10%
25%
50%
75%
What is the primary specialization of the judiciary branch?
Economics
Law
Politics
Sociology
Which state ranks second in the number of cases filed?
Florida
New York
California
Illinois
What does the term "litigious" mean as used in the prompt?
Peaceful
Lawful
Violent
Unlawful
Why is Texas considered a litigious state according to the prompt?
High population density
Large number of attorneys
High crime rate
Large geographical area
Which country has a quarter of the world’s lawyers?
Canada
US
UK
Australia
How many cases did Texas hear in 2018?
11.7 m
5 m
15 m
2m
What percentage of Texas cases in 2018 were traffic violations?
55%
45%
65%
50%
Plea Deal
Agreement without going to trial
Agreement to change lawyers
Agreement to change the judge
Agreement to go to trial
What is the term for an agreement on financial terms for a case to go away?
ArbItTration
Mediation
Settlement
Plea deal
Which state ranks first in the number of cases?
Florida
TX
CA
WA
What percentage of Texas cases in 2018 were criminal cases?
11%
21%
15%
8%
What percentage of Texas cases in 2018 were civil cases?
20%
10%
17%
25%
What percentage of Texas cases in 2018 were juvenile cases?
8%
6%
4%
2%
What does the 10th amendment allow for?
Federal power over states
Judicial review
State powers not in the constitution
Executive orders
What is the role of state courts in society?
Refer to courts in matters of crime and society as a whole
Handle only civil cases
Handle only criminal cases
Handle international cases
What is the main reason Texas is considered litigious?
Number Of AttoneryS
Numbers Of judges
Number
Original jurisdiction
First time this case is heard, typically Trial level , lower level
Court that is review a court case that is original jurisdiction, Always looking for Error.Was the law applied correctly?, (if error is found retry case or decide not to try again )
Appellate Jurisdiction
(court that is review a court case that is original jurisdiction )Always looking for Error ( looking for legal (Was the law applied correctly?, (if error is found retry case or decide not to try again
(first time this case is heard) typically Trial level , lower level
Rebring case, or send back case for further action
Rebring
Remand
Redo
Restart
Why do judges sit higher than everyone else?
Signals respect
Signals status
Primary role of the courts
Make laws
Interpret laws
Execute laws
Common law
prescedents of cases/laws before affect cases later down the line
In the US
In the UK
Actions with legal interpretation
Interpreting laws
Clarifying laws
Checking other branching
Remand the laws
Vast majority of cases are
State based
Federal
The two state courts
Civil court
Criminal court (9 members)
Traffic court
Supreme court (9 member)
-civil cases
-final appellate jurisdiction
Texas trial courts
2173
2172
2175
2176
95% conviction , 5% aquittal
Judge Trials
Jury Trials
81% conviction 19% aquittal
Judge trial
Jury trial
involve conflict between two parties (litigants), whether individuals, corporations, or the government.
Criminal case
Civil case
Supreme case
Trial
Determines Courts by the amount of monetary charges
Civil Cases
Criminal case
Traffic cases
Court determined by severity of transgression
Criminal case
Civil case
Traffic case
Texas courts interpret law by relying on legal traditions—the Texas Constitution, legislation,
Common Law/judge made law
Felony
Remandment
Role of TEXAS courts
Clarify the law
Checks the executive
Checks the legislative
Advance the rule Of the people
Courts go from Lower level trial courts to (hierarchial)
Original courts
Appellate courts
Civil courts
Who choose whether to take a case?
Higher courts
Lower courts
the official territory and types of cases over which a court exercises authority
Jurisdiction
Criminal
Litigation
Highest crime
Misdemeanor
Felony
Transgression
Percentage of domestic litigation cases
3%
4%
5%
6%
Precedents
established rules that courts later down the line must follow
Leads to creation of the common law
Checking the other branches
clarify Laws
The government brings charges against a person (the defendant) who is accused of breaking a law, such as in cases of murder, robbery, larceny, or bribery.
Civil case
Criminal Case
Domestic Litigation
