Courtroom Procedures
This is committed when someone breaks the law, even if someone does not know about the law that was broken.
What is a Crime?
A person who has been charged with a crime.
Who is the Defendant?
Anything that provides proof of a defendants guilt or innocence.
What is Evidence?
A person who tells what he or she knows about a crime.
What is a Witness?
When the defense attorney or prosecuting attorney asks the court for a second opinion about the verdict or the sentence.
What is an appeal?
A legal proceeding held in a courtroom to decide if a defendant is guilty, not guilty, or not criminally responsible.
What is a Trial?
This person keeps order in the court, makes sure both sides are treated fairly, and helps the jury understand the rules of the courtroom and how to make decisions. Sometimes this person will give the verdict and this person always sentences.
Who is the Judge?
When the defendant says that he or she did not commit the crime.
What is Not Guilty?
The police officer in the courtroom.
Who is the Baliff?
The punishment given by the judge to the guilty.
What is the Sentence?
A less formal court proceeding to ensure that a trial is fair.
What is a Hearing?
6 or 12 people from the community who are selected to hear a trial. Each member of this group is selected based on their ability to make fair decisions. When present, they give the verdict.
What is a Jury?
When the defendant says that he or she committed the crime.
What is Guilty?
This person types everything that is said during the trial.
Who is the Court Reporter?
The decision as to whether the defendant is guilty, not guilty, or not criminally responsible.
What is a Verdict?
When someone answers questions from the defense attorney, the prosecuting attorney, or both.
What is to Testify?
This person represents and wants to get the best possible verdict for the defendant.
Who is the Defense Attorney?
When the defendant will not say that he or she is guilty or not guilty. The judge will review the available evidence and determine whether the defendant is guilty or not guilty. The defendant will not have a trial by jury, will not face his or her accusers, and may not have an appeal.
What is No Contest?
Someone who knows the defendant personally and can testify about the defendant's good nature.
Who is a Character Witness?
The defendant pleas guilty or not contest to a less serious charge and receives a lesser punishment than he or she would have received if found guilty at trial.
What is a Plea Bargain?
When a witness or character witness answers questions from the opposing attorney, not the attorney who called them to the stand.
What is Cross Examination?
This person tries to convict the defendant of a crime and get the maximum sentence.
Who is the Prosecuting Attorney?
The defendant committed the crime but at the time of the crime, the defendant either did not know that the action was wrong and/or could not control his or her behavior due to mental illness.
What is Not Criminally Responsible?
These two pleas result in a trial.
What are: Not Guilty and Not Criminally Responsible?