Court Basics
This is the term for the court system that deals with local and state laws.
What is the state court system?
Federal courts handle cases involving this type of law.
What is federal law or interstate cases?
This person instructs the jury and enforces the law in court.
Who is the judge?
Public defenders often face these two major challenges.
What are underfunded and overworked?
The Supreme Court has this many justices.
What is nine?
Courts impact our daily life through traffic tickets and these legal protections.
What are constitutional rights?
This court is the final say in most state-level legal matters unless the U.S. intervenes.
What is the state supreme court?
This type of jurisdiction allows courts to review a decision without a new trial.
What is appellate jurisdiction?
This type of discretion determines who gets formally charged.
What is prosecutorial discretion?
Supreme Court justices are appointed by this person and confirmed by the Senate.
Who is the President?
This type of court hears evidence and decides facts in a case.
What is a trial court?
State courts handle about 100 million of these per year.
What are cases or legal disputes?
This legal professional represents the state or people in a trial.
Who is the prosecutor?
Judges are often this gender, race, and social class.
What is white, male, upper-middle class?
These rulings can override state law on issues like abortion and voting rights.
What are Supreme Court rulings?
Courts influence society beyond punishing crime by shaping these.
What are policy and social change?
The structure of federal courts goes from district → circuit → this.
What is the Supreme Court?
Courts have jurisdiction based on personal, subject matter, and this type related to venue.
What is geographic jurisdiction?
Someone’s identity in terms of race, class, or gender can affect this in court.
What is how they are treated or the outcome of their case?
The appeals process may include direct or indirect challenges, like this famous writ.
What is habeas corpus?
Without multiple court levels and jurisdictions, this could happen to the legal process
What is confusion, inconsistency, or unfair outcomes?
Why do state courts handle far more cases than federal courts?
Because most legal disputes involve local or state laws, not federal law.
Who holds the most power in a courtroom, and what is the risk if misused?
The judge; risk is unfair trials or abuse of power.
A pie chart showing diversity gaps in courts would illustrate this larger issue.
What is systemic inequality in the justice system?
A major debate: Should Supreme Court justices serve this long?
What is for life or until retirement?