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Legal representation that is provided at no charge or a reduced fee.
What is meant by pro bono?
Evidence that exonerates the defendant or is at least favorable to the defendant
What is exculpatory evidence?
A motion for the removal of a trail judge or prosecutor if the defense has reason to believe one of the parties is unable to be fair or impartial
What is motion of recusal?
It is the process through which the defense learns about evidence held by prosecution. This may include reports and witness statements.
What is discovery?
It is a situation in which the prosecutor offers a lesser charge or reduce the number of charges. The defendant agrees to plead guilty in order to avoid a trial and a more severe sentence.
What is a Plea Bargain?
The document that initiates legal proceedings by demonstrating facts and legal reasons the plaintiff believes the defendant owes remedy or has committed a crime.
What is complaint?
A defense lawyer may request everything the prosecution has gathered in the case, including statements from witnesses, DNA evidence, and names of expert witnesses
What is motion for discovery?
to determine if there is enough evidence to establish probable cause that a crime was committed and that the defendant may be responsible.
What occurs at a preliminary hearing?
A formal reading of charges in a court of appropriate jurisdiction in front of the defendant.
The defendant enters a plea: guilty, not guilty, or nolo contendere.
What is the arraignment?
A suspect, without posting bail money, agrees to show up for the court based on their word alone.
What is recognizance?
A motion requesting the court disallow illegally obtained evidence at a trial.
What is motion to suppress?
A federal law that provides a noncapital defendant with the right to be released on bond or on personal recognizance unless the defendant is a flight risk.
What is the Bail Reform Act of 1966?
1. Prosecuting criminal cases at the federal level
2. Prosecuting and defending civil cases when the U.S. is a party
3. Collecting debts owed to the federal government
What are the 3 primary responsibilities of U.S. attorneys?
A jury of no more than 12 people who hear evidence to determine guilt or innocence in criminal cases
What is a petit jury?
It is something in which the defendant and the government are represented by advocates who act on behalf of their client.
What is the advocacy model?
A motion requesting the judge rule on whether particular evidence can be used in trial.
What is the motion in limine?
The chief law enforcement officer in the government and head of the Department of Justice.
1. Represents the United States in legal matters
2. Serves as an advisor to the president
What are the main duties of the U.S. Attorney General?
A federal or state grand jury hears evidence presented by the prosecution to determine whether a person should be charged with a crime (i.e., indicted).
· A grand jury consists of 16 to 23 jurors who are not determining guilt or innocence.
· The jury is determining if enough evidence exists to proceed to trial.
· Individuals on grand juries serve from 1 to 12 months, depending on the state, and meet two or three times a month.
· Federal grand jurors serve for 18 months.
What is a grand jury?
Something used in the United States in which prosecutors and defendants compete against each other to reveal the truth.
What is the adversarial system?
Public defenders may need additional financial resources to mount an effective defense. This motion requests that the state pay expenses related to psychological evaluations or other types of expert testimony
What is motion for expenses of experts?
1. The quality and quantity of evidence
2. The seriousness of the crime
3. The odds of winning the case
4. Court resources
5. The wishes of the victim or family members
6. Public opinion
What factors influence the prosecutor's decision to file charges against a suspect?
1. Prosecuting criminal cases at the federal level
2. Prosecuting and defending civil cases when the U.S. is a party
3. Collecting debts owed to the federal government
What are the primary responsibilities of U.S. Attorneys?