Federal Courts Deep Dive
The three levels of the federal court system in order
What are District Courts, Circuit Courts of Appeals, and the Supreme Court?
The ethical obligation that prevents an attorney from revealing client communications
What is attorney-client privilege?
This case established that evidence obtained illegally cannot be used in court
What is Mapp v. Ohio?
The side of the courtroom where the defendant sits with their attorney
What is the defense table?
The correctional philosophy that punishment should fit the crime
What is proportionality (or just deserts)?
A reform trend that diverts nonviolent offenders away from prison and into treatment
What is diversion (or alternative sentencing)?
The number of U.S. Circuit Courts of Appeals
What is thirteen?
This type of attorney is appointed by the court to represent defendants who cannot afford one
What is a public defender?
The Supreme Court case that guaranteed the right to an attorney for felony defendants
What is Gideon v. Wainwright?
This type of evidence includes witness testimony, as opposed to physical objects
What is testimonial evidence?
This 18th-century reformer argued against torture and for humane punishment
Who is Cesare Beccaria?
This type of correctional facility houses offenders at multiple security levels in one location
What is a multi-security or reception/classification center?
Federal judges receive this type of appointment, giving them lifetime tenure
What is a presidential appointment confirmed by the Senate?
A paralegal differs from an attorney in this important way
What is that a paralegal cannot represent clients in court or give legal advice?
This case ruled that juveniles have due process rights in court proceedings
What is In re Gault?
The process of questioning a witness called by the opposing side
What is cross-examination?
The correctional system that used silence and solitary labor as rehabilitation tools
What is the Auburn System (or Pennsylvania System)?
The federal law passed in 2018 that reduced mandatory minimum sentences and expanded reentry programs
What is the First Step Act?
This doctrine means the Supreme Court's decisions are binding on all lower courts
What is stare decisis (or precedent)?
The governing body that licenses and disciplines attorneys in each state
What is the state bar association?
The ruling that abolished mandatory death penalty statutes
What is Woodson v. North Carolina?
A jury verdict must meet this requirement in most criminal cases
What is unanimity (a unanimous verdict)?
The era in U.S. corrections marked by the rise of rehabilitation programs
What is the Progressive Era (or the rehabilitative era)?
A growing trend that uses data and risk assessments to guide sentencing and supervision decisions
What is evidence-based practice (or risk-needs-responsivity)?
The only way to remove a sitting federal judge from the bench
What is impeachment?
This specialized legal career involves applying scientific knowledge to legal questions
What is a forensic specialist or forensic scientist?
This case established that inmates retain certain constitutional rights while incarcerated
What is Wolff v. McDonnell?
This constitutional protection prevents a defendant from being tried twice for the same crime
What is double jeopardy?
This 1974 report by Robert Martinson famously argued that rehabilitation programs did not work
What is the "What Works?" study (or the Martinson Report)?
This reform model focuses on repairing harm between offenders, victims, and communities rather than punishment
What is restorative justice?