Court Structure
This type of court hears specific cases such as traffic violations.
What is a Court of Limited Jurisdiction?
The stage where a suspect is photographed, fingerprinted, and officially entered into the system.
What is Booking?
This is the last opportunity for a defendant to enter a plea before trial.
What is an Arraignment?
This amendment protects against self-incrimination.
What is the 5th Amendment?
A petition used to challenge unlawful imprisonment.
What is Habeas Corpus?
These courts hear most felony criminal cases at the state level.
What are Courts of General Jurisdiction?
During this hearing, the defendant is informed of charges and bail may be set.
What is the Initial Appearance?
A trial decided by a judge rather than a jury.
What is a Bench Trial?
This amendment guarantees the right to counsel.
What is the 6th Amendment?
A request by a higher court to review a lower court case.
What is a Writ of Certiorari?
The lowest federal trial courts in the United States.
What are U.S. District Courts?
This hearing determines whether probable cause exists for the case to continue.
What is a Preliminary Hearing?
The process used to question potential jurors.
What is Voir Dire?
This amendment prohibits excessive bail.
What is the 8th Amendment?
This type of court only hears appeals and does not conduct trials.
What is an Appellate Court?
The appellate courts of the federal system.
What are U.S. Circuit Courts of Appeals?
Formal charges issued by a prosecutor are called this.
What is an Information?
A challenge allowing attorneys to remove a juror without stating a reason.
What is a Peremptory Challenge?
This amendment includes both Due Process and Equal Protection clauses.
What is the 14th Amendment?
For most federal cases, appeals from District Courts go here.
What is a U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals?
The highest court in the United States.
What is the U.S. Supreme Court?
Formal charges issued by a grand jury are called this.
What is an Indictment?
A jury that cannot reach a unanimous decision is called this.
What is a Hung Jury?
This constitutional protection prevents a person from being tried twice for the same crime.
What is Double Jeopardy?
The court that is the final interpreter of the U.S. Constitution.
What is the U.S. Supreme Court?