Foundations of Law
A system of rules created and enforced by a governing body to regulate behavior and maintain order in society
What is law?
These trial courts in Florida handle smaller cases like misdemeanors, traffic offenses, and small claims disputes.
What are county courts?
Florida attorneys swear to support this foundational U.S. document.
What is the Constitution of the United States?
The level of court where cases are first filed and trials are held
What are trial courts?
Governs disputes between individuals and organizations
What is Civil Law?
These trial courts in Florida handle more serious cases, including felonies, major civil cases, family law, and probate.
What are circuit courts?
The ethical duty requiring lawyers to keep client information private
What is confidentiality?
The court you can usually appeal to if you lose at the trial court level
What is an appellate court?
Involves cases where a person is accused of committing a crime against the state or society.
What is Criminal Law?
This DCA hears appeals from the 11th Judicial Circuit, which includes Miami-Dade County.
What is the 3rd District Court of Appeal?
The ethical principle requiring lawyers to avoid situations where their personal interests conflict with those of their clients
What is conflict of interest?
Often called the "Highest Court in the Land" but only hears cases involving errors in federal law or the U.S. Constitution
What is the U.S. Supreme Court?
The principle that courts should follow past judicial decisions when making rulings in new cases
What is precedent (stare decisis)?
Florida is divided into three federal districts. Name them.
What are the Northern, Middle, and Southern Districts of Florida?
The system where two opposing parties present their case to an impartial judge or jury
What is the Adversarial System?
The legal term referring to the power of a court to hear a case
What is jurisdiction?
Law developed by judges through decisions in court cases.
What is Common Law?
This is the highest court in the federal system, which can review appeals from the 11th Circuit.
What is the United States Supreme Court?
Lawyers are required to know the law well enough to provide the best representation for their clients.
What is Competence?
The division of power between the federal government and the state governments.
What is Federalism?