| A | B |
|---|
| Appellate brief | written argument on 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 who develops a binding and enforceable resolution to a dispute |
| Associate circuit 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 |
| Jury | panel of citizens sworn by a court to decide issues of fact in court cases |
| 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 place a dispute before a court of law for resolution |
| Mediator | independent third party who tries to develop a non-binding solution acceptable to both sides of a dispute |
| Municipal court | city court, 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 courts | state courts that handle disputes in which small amounts, generally $2,500 or less, are involved |
| Special jurisdiction | court that hears only one specific type of case |
| Transcript | verbatim record of what went on at trial |
| Trial court | first court to hear a dispute |
| Verdict | jury's decision in a case |
| Writ of certiorari | order to a lower court to produce the record of a case for the Supreme Court to review |
