"Objection!" Sustained"
Courtroom Procedures
Courtroom Procedures
If a witness tries to testify about what someone else said outside of court, a defense attorney may shout this objection.
What is “Objection: Hearsay”?
In Virginia, the prosecution must provide this to the defense before trial, including witness statements, police reports, and tangible evidence.
What is “discovery”?
This 1874 case of an abused 8-year-old girl in New York led to the first child protection society in the U.S. and sparked the creation of children’s rights laws.
Who is Mary Ellen Wilson?
By addressing issues like substance abuse or mental health, diversion programs aim to lower this, keeping offenders from repeating crimes.
What is recidivism?
Signed into law in 1994, this saxophone-playing Democratic president enacted the Violence Against Women Act.
Who is Bill Clinton.
This first court appearance formally informs a defendant of the charges against them and allows them to enter a plea.
What is an arraignment?
This rule requires prosecutors to disclose evidence favorable to the accused, including anything that could impeach government witnesses.
What is the “Brady Rule”?
Known as the “Trial of the Century,” this celebrity was acquitted of murder charges in 1995, sparking worldwide media attention.
Who is O.J. Simpson?
The earliest diversion programs in the U.S. began in the 1960s to address juvenile delinquency and these types of offenses.
What are minor or non-violent offenses?
Before any custodial interrogation, police must give this warning to inform a suspect of their rights.
What are Miranda rights?
During trial, a question is asked about the victim’s childhood, unrelated to the crime. The prosecutor stands and says this.
What is “Objection: Relevance”?
This type of disclosure requires prosecutors to reveal any promises, deals, or inducements given to a witness that could affect their credibility.
What is “Giglio material”?
Known for the phrase “let him eat cake,” this 18th-century figure’s trial is often cited in discussions of public outrage and justice.
Who is Marie Antoinette?
Established in 1989 in Miami‑Dade County, this was the first drug court in the United States — created to divert non‑violent offenders with substance use issues into treatment instead of incarceration.
What is the Miami‑Dade Drug Court?
This federal law, first passed in 1982 and strengthened in 2004, guarantees certain rights for victims in federal criminal cases.
What is the Crime Victims’ Rights Act (CVRA)
The process of questioning potential jurors to uncover bias or conflicts of interest is called this.
What is voir dire?
Before trial, all tangible evidence must be handled and preserved in this way to prevent claims of tampering or spoliation.
What is “chain of custody”?
This social phenomenon, first studied after the 1964 murder of Kitty Genovese in New York, describes how individuals are less likely to help a victim when others are present.
What is the bystander effect?
This specialty court, first officially launched in Broward County, Florida in 1997, is widely recognized as the first formal mental health court, diverting defendants with serious mental illness into treatment and supervised care.
What is the Broward County Mental Health Court?
This amendment-inspired principle underlies many victims’ rights laws: victims are entitled to protection from intimidation and harassment by the accused.
What is the right to safety?
This Latin term, used by prosecutors, means the office has decided not to pursue charges against a defendant, effectively dropping the case.
What is nolle prosequi?
If the prosecution discovers new evidence after the initial disclosure, Virginia law requires them to do this immediately.
What is “supplement discovery”?
The eerie 1980s Chicago murder of this woman — whose killers entered through a bathroom medicine‑cabinet opening in public housing — is frequently cited as one true case that helped shape the horror lore behind Candyman.
Who is Ruthie Mae McCoy?
Which age group has the highest juvenile delinquency case rate nationally?
What is youth ages 15–17?
Crime victims have the right to this in court, where they can describe the impact of the crime before sentencing.
What is a Victim’s Rights Notification?