Types of Courts
The power of courts to hear cases.
What is jurisdiction?
Party who initiates a lawsuit.
What is a plaintiff?
The initial pleading filed by the plaintiff in many action.
What is a complaint?
The preliminary examination of a juror or a witness to ascertain fitness to act as such.
What is voir dire examination?
A direction by the trial judge to the jury to return a verdict in favor of a specified party to the action.
What is directed verdict?
Judicial authority to hear a particular type of case.
What is subject matter jurisdiction?
Party who originates a criminal proceeding.
A pleading that may be filed to attack the adverse party's pleading as not stating a cause of action of a defense.
What is a motion to dismiss?
Statement by opposing attorneys that tell the jury what their cases will prove.
What is opening statement?
The attorney address that follows all the evidence presented in court and sums up a case and recommends a particular verdict be returned by the jury.
What is summation?
The authority to hear a controversy when it is first brought to court.
What is original jurisdiction?
Party charged with a violation of civil or criminal law in a proceeding.
What is a defendant?
A pleading to dismiss the adverse party's pleading for not stating a cause of action or a defense.
What is a demurrer?
The quality of the evidence in a case that allows it to be presented to the jury.
What is admissibility?
A court's declaration that terminates a trial and postpones it to a later date.
What is mistrial?
The power of a court to hear and decide a given class of cases on appeal from another court or administrative agency.
What is appellate juisdiction?
Primary officer of the court.
What is a judge?
A claim that the defendant in an action may make against the plaintiff.
What is a counterclaim?
Examination of a witness by his or her attorney.
What is direct examination?
The name given in some states to attachment proceedings.
What is garnishment?
The power to hear and decide most controversies involving legal rights and duties.
What is general jurisdiction?
A body of citizens sworn by a court to determine by verdict the issues of fact submitted to them.
What is a jury?
Paperwork served personally on a defendant in a civil case.
What is a process?
The examination of a witness by the attorney for the adverse party.
The settlement of disputed questions by one or more arbitrators by whose decision the parties agree to be bound.