The Court System
The document that begins a lawsuit
What is a Complaint
This is a legal obligation to perform or refrain from performing an act.
What is duty
This party begins a civil lawsuit by filing a complaint.
What is the plaintiff
law created through legislative acts
What is STATUTORY LAW
Questioning protential jurors to identify bias or preformed opinions
What is Voir Dire
A trail ended without a valid final determination, often because of serious misconduct or another problem preventing a fair trial.
WHat is a Mistrial
This constitutional right protects your ability to express ideas and opinions
What is freedom of speech
This term means a court's authority to hear and decided a case.
Local Laws adopted by by cities counties, and other governmental subdivisons withing their authority
What is Ordinances (Local Ordinances)
The plantiff presents first, followed by the defendeant
What is Presentations of Evidence
These are written questions answered by a party
What is Interrogatories
This amendment protects against unreasonable government searches and seizures
What is the fourth Amendment
This pretrial process allows parties to obtain information through depositions, interrogatories, and document requests.
What is Discovery
This doctrine means courts follow precedent when deciding similar cases
What is Stare decisis
This process helps jurors understand how the evidance fits together is where the attorneys introduce their cases ad explain what they expect the eivdence to show.
What is Opening Statment
The court system that "Resolves disputes involving small amounts of money"
What is Small Claims Courts
This rule may prevent evidence obtained through an unlawful search from being used in a criminal trial.
What is the exclusionary rule
This is the testimony of a witness taken under oath outside the courtroom.
What is a deposition
Law developed through court decisions and long standing community rules rather than statutes.
Wha is Common Law
When a jury is unable to reach the required agreement this may lead to a mistrial and another trial
What is Hung Jury
An order by which the Supreme Court agrees to review a lower courts case
What is Writ of Certiorari
This right requires fair legal procedures before the government deprives a person of life, liberty, or property
What is due process
This equitable remedy orders a party to carry out what was promised in a contract.
What is specific performance
A decision without trial when there is no geniune dispute about a material fact and a party is entilted to judgment under the law
What is a Summary Judgment
Asking the judge to decide an issue because the evidance is legally insufficient for a reasonable jury to rule for the opposing party
What is Motion for a Directed Verdict