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Law, Order, & Public Policy Ch. 9 Terms
N/A
25
Criminal Justice
12th Grade
05/30/2014

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Term
Appeal
Definition
Generally, the request that a court with appellate jurisdiction review the judgment, decision, or order of a lower court & set it aside (reverse it) or modify it.
Term
Appellate Jurisdiction
Definition
The lawful authority of a court to review a decision made by a lower court.
Term
Bailiff
Definition
The court officer whose duties are to keep order in the courtroom & to maintain physical custody of the jury.
Term
Change of Venue
Definition
The movement of a trial or lawsuit from one jurisdiction to another within the same jurisdiction. A change of venue may be made in a criminal case to ensure that the defendant receives a fair trial.
Term
Community Court
Definition
A low-level court that focuses on quality-of-life crimes that erode a neighborhood's morale. Community courts emphasize problem-solving rather than punishment & build on restorative principles like community service & restitution.
Term
Court of Last Resort
Definition
The court authorized by law to hear the final appeal on a matter.
Term
Courtroom Work Group
Definition
The professional courtroom actors, including judges, prosecuting attorneys, public defenders, & others who earn a living serving the court.
Term
Defense Counsel
Definition
A licensed trial lawyer hired or appointed to conduct the legal defense of a person accused of a crime & to represent him or her before a court of law.
Term
Exculpatory Evidence
Definition
Any information having a tendency to clear a person of guilt or blame.
Term
Expert Witness
Definition
A person who has special knowledge & skills recognized by the court as relevant to the determination of guilt or innocence. Unlike lay witnesses, expert witnesses may express opinions or draw conclusions in their testimony.
Term
Federal Court System
Definition
The three-tiered structure of federal courts, comprising U.S. district courts, U.S. courts of appeal, & the U.S. Supreme Court.
Term
Judge
Definition
An elected or appointed public official who presides over a court of law & who is authorized to hear & sometimes decide cases & to conduct trials.
Term
Judicial Review
Definition
The power of a court to review actions & decisions made by other agencies of government.
Term
Jurisdiction
Definition
The territory, subject matter, or people over which a court or other justice agency may exercise lawful authority, as determined by statute or constitution.
Term
Juror
Definition
A member of a trial or grand jury who has been selected for jury duty & is required to serve as an arbiter of the facts in a court of law. Jurors are expected to render verdicts of "guilty" or "not guilty" as to the charge brought against the accused, although they sometimes fail to do so (as in the case of a hung jury).
Term
Lay Witness
Definition
An eyewitness, character witness, or other person called to testify who is not considered an expert. Lay witnesses must testify to facts only & may not draw conclusions or express opinions.
Term
Original Jurisdiction
Definition
The lawful authority of a court to hear or to act on a case from its beginning & to pass judgment on the law & the facts. The authority may be over a specific geographic area or over particular types of cases.
Term
Prosecutor
Definition
An attorney whose official duty is to conduct criminal proceedings on behalf of the state or the people against those accused of having committed criminal offenses.
Term
Prosecutorial Discretion
Definition
The decision-making power of prosecutors, based on the wide range of choices available to them, in the handling of criminal defendants, the scheduling of cases for trial, the acceptance of negotiated pleas, & so on. The most important form of prosecutorial discretion lies in the power to charge, or to not charge, a person with an offense.
Term
Public Defender
Definition
An attorney employed to a government agency or subagency, or by a private organization under contract to a government body, for the purpose of providing defense services to indigent, or an attorney who has volunteered to such service.
Term
State Court Administrator
Definition
A coordinator who assists with case-flow management, operation funds budgeting, & court docket administration.
Term
State Court System
Definition
A state judicial structure. Most states have at least three court levels: trial courts, appellate courts, & a state supreme court.
Term
Subpoena
Definition
A written order issued by a judicial office or grand jury requiring an individual to appear in court & give testimony or to bring material to be used as evidence. Some subpoenas mandate that books, papers, & other items be surrendered to the court.
Term
Trial de Novo
Definition
Literally, "new trial." The term is applied to cases that are retried on appeal, as opposed to those that are simply reviewed on the record.
Term
Victims' Assistance Program
Definition
An organized program that offers services to victims of crime in the area of crisis intervention & follow-up counseling & that helps victims secure their rights under the law.
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