| A | B |
|---|
| appellate brief | written arguments of the issues of law submitted by opposing attorneys |
| appellate court | reviews decisions of lower courts to determine if a significant error of law was made during trial |
| arbitrator | independent third party to develops a binding and enforceable resolution to a dispute |
| associate circuit court (or county court) | court that hears minor criminal cases, state traffic offenses, and lawsuits involving amounts of no more than $25,000 |
| court | governmental forum that administers justice under the law |
| court of record | accurate, detailed report of what went on at trial |
| general jurisdiction | court that can hear almost any kind of case |
| justice | title of a judge on the state supreme court or federal Supreme Court |
| juveniles | individuals over 13 and under 18 years of age who have special status under the criminal law |
| litigate | to resolve disputes in court |
| mediator | independent third party who tries to develop a non-binding solution acceptable to both sides of a dispute |
| municipal court | city courts, usually divided into traffic and criminal divisions |
| original jurisdiction | power to hear the case in full for the first time |
| probate court | administers wills and estates |
| small claims court | courts that handles disputes usually $2,500 or less |
| special jurisdiction | court that hears only one specific type of case |
| transcript | a verbatim record of what went on at trial |
| trial court | first court to hear a dispute |
| writ of certiorari | order to a lower court to produce the record of a case for the Supreme Court to review |
