| A | B |
|---|
| appellate jurisdiction | authority to review decisions of lower courts |
| capital felony | a crime punishable by death |
| civil case | when the court acts as a referee to settle disputes between two or more parties |
| courts | must wait for cases or problems to be brought to them |
| crime | something prohibited by law or failure to take a required action |
| criminal case | when the state takes legal action against someone charged with a crime by the government |
| defendant | the party against whom legal action is brought |
| delinquent juveniles | children and youth who commit acts that would be criminal offenses if committed by an adult |
| district attorney | the person who represents the state in criminal cases |
| due process | rights and procedures written in constitutions that protect fair treatment |
| grand jury | a group of 16-23 citizens who decide whether or not a person charged with a crime should be formally charged |
| indictment | a formal charge against a suspect |
| judicial branch | interprets and applies laws in order to settle conflicts |
| judicial review | formal examination of rules or laws to determine if they violate the Constitution |
| jurisdiciton | the power or authority of a court to hear and settle particular kinds of disputes |
| jury | a group of citizens who hear a case |
| juvenile | a person under the age of 17 |
| misdemeanor | a less serious crime |
| municipal courts | city courts that hear cases involving violations of city ordinances and traffic violations |
| original jurisdiction | authority to be the first court to hear a case |
| plaintiff | the party who brings legal action in a civil case |
| probate court | located in each county; has the power to prove the validity of wills and handle matters for people who have died |
| prosecution | the role of the state when it tries an individual for a criminal act |
| public defender | a person who provides legal assistance to persons charged with crimes who have no money to hire a lawyer |
| superior court | Georgia's general trial court |
| supreme court | highest court in Georgia |
| voir dire | questioning of potential jurors by attorneys for both sides |
