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These courts of general jurisdiction hear serious criminal and civil cases. Trial courts operate under rules of evidence established by procedural law.
· may have general or limited jurisdiction.
· based on evidence and testimony presented before a judge or jury
What are trial courts?
A landmark decision of the U.S. Supreme Court in which the Court ruled that U.S. state laws establishing racial segregation in public schools are unconstitutional
· Overruled Plessy v. Ferguson (1896) "separate but equal" principle
What was Brown v. Board of Education (1954)?
A formal charge against an individual suspected of committing a crime
· typically presented by the prosecutor.
· The purpose is to inform the accused of the charges so a defense may be prepared.
What is information?
Interpreting the words of the Constitution as literal, discounting the current context socially, historically, or technologically, and focusing on the plain language contained in the document and how to apply the literal meaning.
What is strict interpretation?
Only four justices who have served on the U.S. Supreme Court have been women.
Women make up only 10% of the Tenth Circuit's active members.
About 30% of active U.S. district judges are women.
Only 68 women of color are serving as active federal judges across the United States.
Seven federal courts of appeals have no active female judges.
What did the National Women's Law Center in their 2016 report find regarding female judges?
Intermediate courts that fall between trial courts and the supreme courts
What are state appellate courts?
U.S. Supreme Court case that established equal protections under the Fourteenth Amendment for Mexican American and racial groups
· First case in which Latino attorneys argued a case in the U.S. Supreme Court
· Some historians argue that Pedro Capo-Rodriguez first argued before the Supreme Court in 1950.
What was Hernandez v. Texas (1954)?
A formal accusation that an individual has committed an act punishable by law, typically presented by a grand jury.
What is an indictment?
_____ courts represent one branch of the government established by the Constitution.
· Jurisdiction varies on the types of cases they handle.
· In ____ courts all felony prosecutions must be initiated by indictment and are used in cases involving more serious crimes, whereas, state cases may begin with an information or complaint.
What ways do federal and state courts differ?
Constitutional protection under the 5th Amendment that prevents the accused from facing charges or trial by the same court jurisdiction after an acquittal or conviction for the same offense
What is double jeopardy
The first woman accepted to the bar in Washington, D.C. (1873)
· First female member of the Supreme Court bar
· First female lawyer to argue a case before the Supreme Court (1880)
Who was Belva Lockwood?
It is the U.S. court structure wherein the federal government has a court system and procedures distinct from the states.
What is the dual court system?
1. Judges play a major supervisory role and collaborate with representatives from other
criminal justice agencies and social services.
2. The courts' goal is to provide treatment alternatives in lieu of incarceration.
3. The courts typically focus on first-time nonviolent misdemeanor and, in some cases, felony
offenders.
4. The outcome focuses on reduced recidivism and rehabilitation.
5. The courts are designed to be non-adversarial. Specialized courts emphasize collaboration
among public and private agencies in order to create a nonpunitive approach and serve a variety of populations.
What ways do specialized courts differ from traditional courts?
The courts of last resort for the majority of state laws.
What are State Supreme Courts?
The first Hispanic attorney general to serve in the United States
Who is Alberto Gonzales?
The doctrine that ensures checks and balances by allowing courts to review the actions of the executive and legislative branches
What is judicial review?
1. Victims and defendants are forced to wait too long for resolution.
2. Scarce resources in the criminal justice system are wasted if defendants are in jail waiting
for trial.
3. Defendants may pay a high price, particularly given the assumption of innocence, and those
who are not released on bail are unable to work and care for family members.
4. To the extent that those on bail may commit additional crimes, these delays can harm
victims and communities.
Why is the judiciary's inability to quickly process cases problematic?
The U.S. Supreme Court was established by this and is the highest court in the federal court system.
What is the Judiciary Act of 1789?
In 1844, he became the first Black attorney in the United States
· In 1848 became the first African American judge in the United States though he was not considered a citizen under the U.S. Constitution because he was Black.
Who was Macon Bolling Allen?
It requires that those charged with a crime be indicted within 30 days of arrest and that trial occur within 70 days after indictment.
Federal Speedy Trial Act of 1974?
An approach to settle cases using a variety of methods to assist the disputing parties in finding a solution without relying on costly litigation
What is alternative dispute resolution?
A petition by a losing party requesting a higher court to review the lower court's ruling
What is a writ of certiorari?