| A | B |
|---|
| Inferior Courts | All lower federal courts below the US Supreme Court |
| Jurisdiction | the authority of a court to hear (to try or decide) a case; the power to say the law |
| Exclusive Jursidiction | the power of the Federal Courts alone to hear (to try or decide) certain cases |
| Concurrent Jurisdiction | power shared by federal and Stae courts to hear (to try or decide) certain cases |
| Plaintiff | the person who files a law suit, making a claim against the defendant |
| Defendant | the person against whom a lawsuit is filed by a plaintiff |
| Original Jurisdiction | the power of a court to hear a case first, before before any other court |
| Appellate Jurisdiction | the authority of a court to review decisions of inferior (lower) courts |
| Criminal Case | a case in which a defendant is tried for committing a crime as defined by law; an example is murder |
| Civil Case | A case involving a non-criminal matter such as a contract dispute or divorce |
| Docket | a court's list of cases to be heard |
| Writ of Certiorari | an order by the Supreme Court ordering the lower court to send up the record of a case for review; from Latin meaning "to be more certain" |
| Certificate | a method of putting a case before the Supreme Court; used when a lower court is not clear about the procedure or rule of law |
| Majority Opinion | The Opinion of the Court; announces the Supreme Court's decision in a case and describes the reasoning upon which the decision is based |
| Precedent | court decision that stands as an example to be followed in future, similar cases |
| Concurring Opinion | written explanation of the views of one or more justices on the Supreme Court who support a decision reached by the majority, but wish to add or emphasize a point that was not made by the majority opinion |
| Dissenting Opinion | written explanation of the views of one or more justices on the Supreme Court who disagree with (dissent from) a decision reached by the majority opinion |
| Redress | Satisfaction of a claim for payment |
| Courts-martial | A court composed of military personnel, for the trial of those accused of violating military law |
| Civilian Tribunal | a court operating as part of the judicial branch, entirely separate from the military branch, like the Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces |
