Sources/Types of Law
Laws that prohibit certain acts that are considered crimes
Criminal Law
A system of law based on previous legal decisions (originated in England and influenced the U.S.)
English Common Law
Highest Court in the United States. Its rulings are final.
The power of the Supreme Court to say whether any federal, state, or local law or government action goes against the Constitution.
Judicial Review
An agreement by the two parties in a lawsuit to close or settle the dispute without completing the trial and having a verdict. Usually the defense agrees to pay a sum of money to the plaintiff.
Settlement
Laws that relate to disputes between people or groups or between people and the government
Civil Law
A law established by judicial decision...based on previous court decisions in the United States. We got this idea from English Common Law.
Case Law
Court where a party that lost a case in a lower court asks judges to review that decision and reverse it (usually decided by a 3 judge panel)
US Circuit Court of Appeals, Appellate Court, Court of Appeals
The finding or decision of the court in a case
Verdict
An agreement in which a defendant agrees to plead guilty to a less serious crime in order to receive a lighter sentence
Plea Bargain
Laws pertaining to the armed forces where violations can result in a court-martial.
Military Law
A type of serious crime such as murder or kidnapping. More serious than misdemeanor crimes.
Felony
Type of court in which a judge or jury listens to the evidence and reaches a verdict (decision) in favor or one party or the other in the case
Trial Court,
U.S. District Court or,
Florida Circuit Court
A formal notice filed in court by the Plaintiff's attorney and sent to the defendant noticing them a lawsuit has started and they are being sued
Complaint
Damages or money awarded by a jury to punish the defendant - party responsible for injuring the plaintiff. These are usually above what the plaintiff is asking for and are meant to punish wrongdoing that was done knowingly or on purpose.
Punitive damages
Law dealing with the formation, construction, and interpretation of constitutions (federal and state)
The least serious type of crime; a minor crime for which a person can be charged a small amount of money or jailed for up to a year but usually less.
Misdemeanor
Attorney working for the government acting in its role as the party who starts the legal proceedings against someone accused of a crime.
Prosecutor
A notice directing someone to appear in court to answer a complaint or charge
Summons
A document issued by a body called a grand jury that formally charges someone with a crime after reviewing evidence
Indictment
Body of Laws created by a Legislature.
Statutory Law
An organized body of law is called a
Code
The party in a civil case who claims to have been harmed; the party that files the lawsuit against another party
Plaintiff
An order a higher court issues to a lower court to obtain the records of a particular case.
Writ of Certiorari (Writ of Cert)
The accused enters a plea of not guilty or guilty
Arraignment