| A | B |
|---|
| jurisdiction | legal power, where the power can be exercised |
| justices | judges of the highest courts |
| jury | a body of citizens sworn to give a true verdict according to the evidence presented |
| Circuit Courts | state court with jurisdiction in criminal matters over felonies |
| orginal jurisdiction | where a court case will start, its beginning |
| Court of Appeals of Virginia | 11 judges, hears appeals from Circuit Ct. |
| felony | serious crimes |
| criminal cases | case brought by the government against a person accused of committing a crime |
| civil cases | legal disputes between individuals/organizations not involving criminal matters |
| General District Courts | Traffic cases, misdemeanors, claims under $4,500 |
| misdemeanors | crime that is punishable by less than one year in jail |
| Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court | juvenile crime, child abuse or neglect, custody |
| magistrate | court officer with limited authority to administer and enforce the law |
| subpoenas | a command from a court to require the person named in the subpoena to appear at a stated time and place to provide tertimony or evidence |
| arrest warrents | a court document that directs a law enforcement officer to arrest a person and bring them to court |
| summons | an order to appear in person at a given time |
| bail | a monetary amount set to ensure the accused will appear in court |
| US Supreme Court | Highest court in the land |
| US Court of Appeals | federal appellate courts |
| US District Court | federal general trial courts |
| judicial review | authority of a court to review the actions of other branches of government |
| constitutionality | determining if laws are in agreement with the US Constitution |
| Marbury v Madison | US Supreme Court case established judicial review |
| criminal law | felonies and misdemeanors |
| civil law | deals with private offenses such as violation of contracts |
| court proceedings | the steps by which legal judgements are determined |
| guilty | plea where the defendent admits committing the crime |
| probable cause | reasonable belief that a crime has been committed by the amount of evidence |
| arrest | apprehending a person who is suspected of a crime |
| arraignment | a court hearing where a defendant is advised of the charges and asked to pleasd guilty or not guilty |
| attorney | lawyer, barrister |
| plea | an answer to a charge |
| trial | the determination of guilt takes place |
| plaintiff | a person who brings action in a court of law |
| damages | mones paid or awarded in civil cases to compensate for harm suffered by the plaintiff |
| compensation | money or action to correct the wrong |
| due process of law | 14th amendment: no person shall be deprived of life, liberty or property without legal protection |
| 5th amendment | prevents the federal government from taking private property without providing "just compensation" |
| prohibits | forbid, command against |
