This is a system in which the court of law is a neutral arena where two parties argue their differences
What is the adversary system?
100
This is the authority of a court to hear a case "in the first instance"
What is original jurisdiction?
100
Literally, "a friend of the court" brief, filed by an individual or organization to present arguments in addition to those presented by the immediate parties to a case
What is an amicus curiae brief?
100
This is the current chief justice of the Supreme Court
Who is John Roberts?
100
This is the party instigating a civil lawsuit
Who is the plaintiff?
200
This type of law governs relationships between individuals and defines their legal rights
What is civil law?
200
This is a court order requiring explanation to a judge why a prisoner is being held in custody
What is writ of habeas corpus?
200
In these courts almost all federal cases are heard
What are district courts?
200
These are the female members of the Supreme Court
What are justices Sotomayor, Kagan, Ginsburg?
200
In a criminal action, this is the person or party accused of an offense.
Who is the defendant?
300
This is a court with appellate jurisdiction that hears appeals from decisions of lower courts.
What is the court of appeals?
300
This is a philosophy proposing that judges should strike down laws that are inconsistent with the norma and values stated or implied in the Constitution
What is judicial activism?
300
This allows Senators of the president's party to select district court judges in their states
What is senatorial courtesy?
300
These are the male members of the Supreme Court
Who are justices Breyer, Alito, Roberts, Thomas, Kennedy and Scalia?
300
This is the only black Supreme Court justice
Who is Clarence Thomas?
400
This are of law deals with crimes against the public order
What is criminal law?
400
This is a philosophy proposing that judges should strike down the actions of the elected branches only if they clearly violate the literal meaning of the Constitution
What is judicial restraint?
400
This is an opinion disagreeing with the majority in a Supreme Court ruling
What in a dissenting opinion?
400
This is an arrangement whereby public officials are hired to provide legal assistance to people accused of crimes who are unable to hire their own attorneys
What is the public defender system?
400
This is an explanation of a decision of the Supreme Court or any other appellate court
What is an opinion of the court?
500
This is the power of the Supreme Court to interpret the constitution.
What is judicial review?
500
This is a list of potential cases that reach the Supreme Court.
What is the docket?
500
This is the rule of precedent, whereby a rule of law contained in a judicial decision is commonly viewed as binding on judges whenever the same question is presented
What is "stare decisis"?
500
This is the third-ranking official in the Department of Justice who is responsible for representing the U.S. in cases before the Supreme Court
What is the solicitor general?
500
This was the courthouse we visited a few months ago