Georgia State Judicial Branch
SS8CG4: The student will analyze the role
of the judicial branch in Georgia state
government.
The First Five
November 17, 2014
Agenda Message: Study for tomorrow’s Unit 5 Quiz
(Vocabulary & class notes)
Today’s Warm-up: HOTS; Practice Questions
Who was the 1st explorer to
enter present-day Georgia?
A. Juan Ponce de Leon
B. Christopher Columbus
C. Hernando de Soto
D. Vasco da Gama
1.
2. What was the 1st permanent British
colony in North America?
A. Roanoke Island
B. Jamestown
C. Georgia
D. Massachusetts Bay
3. Which term BEST describes the kind of people Oglethorpe and the other
trustees wanted to bring to Georgia?
A. Former convents
B. Well educated
C. Deeply religious
D. Poor but worthy
Georgia’s Judicial Branch
• Made up of state’s courts
• Purpose:
– interpret state constitution
– protect legal rights of citizens
– enforce laws of the state
• Due Process of Law: amendments in the
Constitution that make sure everyone is
protected from abuse by the government.
Examples of Due Process include:
–
–
–
–
Right to a fair and public trial
Right to be present at the trial
Right to an impartial jury
Right to be heard in one's own defense
Georgia’s Judicial Branch
Supreme Court is state’s highest court.
• Supreme Court judges are called Justices. State
justices are elected to six-year terms.
• The Chief Justice (leader) is chosen by the other
justices.
Appellate Court (Court of Appeals) reviews cases (no
witnesses and no juries). It is the 2nd highest court in
the state.
Trial Courts hear criminal and civil cases
– examples: magistrate, juvenile, state, superior, probate,
municipal
Laws are divided into two categories:
Criminal & Civil Laws
Criminal Law: protects society from individuals
• Crime: a serious offense, where a prosecutor
(lawyer for GA) will start legal action against
the person who is accused of a crime
• The accused or defendant will be tried in
criminal court.
Laws are divided into two categories:
Criminal & Civil Laws
Civil Law: deals with the relationship between
individuals (reality TV court shows)
• Tort: an injury or wrong done to a person. The
person sues for money (called damages) in a
civil court.
• Plaintiff: Person who sues
• Defendant: Person who is being sued
Ticket out the Door Question
What is the difference between
criminal and civil law?
The First Five
November 18, 2014
Agenda Message: Quiz on Friday over terms and
information. Start studying tonight! Frayer
Model Juvenile Justice Terms due Wednesday
11/19th
Georgia’s Judicial Branch
• A felony is a serious crime.
• It is punishable by a prison sentence of more
than 1 year (arson, kidnapping, robbery, rape,
burglary, selling drugs, & car theft).
• A capital felony is punishable by death
(murder).
• A misdemeanor has a less severe punishment
of jail or fine (shoplifting, cruelty to animals,
and assault & battery with minor injuries).
Misdemeanor Crimes in Georgia
Misdemeanors are punishable by:
• Fine of up to $1,000
• Up to 12 months in county jail
• Both a fine & time in county jail
• Up to 12 months in a state diversion center
For example, simple battery (hitting someone) is
a misdemeanor under Georgia’s laws.
Felony Crimes in Georgia
These crimes are generally treated as felonies:
• Rape
• Murder
• Robbery
• Grand Theft: Commit a crime of any type and the value is
over $400.00
• Burglary
• Selling Drugs
• Kidnapping
• Assault & Battery: Harm another person
• Fraud: Intent to be deceitful
These crimes are punishable by one year in prison to a life
sentence
State Prisons
• Georgia has a total of almost 80 state prisons
within it's state lines.
• They are located all over the state.
• This number includes both men's and
women's prisons, but does not include jails or
federal prisons in Georgia.
Juvenile Court System
• Every county has a juvenile court.
• Purposes:
– help and protect children
– provide care for children removed from homes
• Delinquent Act: act that would be a crime if
committed by an adult (example: burglary)
• Status Offense: act that would not be a
crime if committed by an adult (example:
smoking)
Juvenile Court System
SS8CG6: The student will explain how the
Georgia court system treats juvenile
offenders.
Juvenile Court System
• Juvenile: citizen under the age of 17.
• Common crimes are:
1. truancy(not going to school)
2. Drugs
3. drinking alcohol
4. loitering (hanging around a public place
without permission)
5. violating curfews
6. running away from home
Tuesday’s HOT’S: Questions
The First Five
November 20, 2014
Agenda Message: Quiz on Friday over terms and
information. Start studying tonight! Frayer
Model Juvenile Justice Terms due Wednesday
11/
Today’s Warm-up:
Wednesday’s HOTS!
Steps in Juvenile Justice Process
1. Juvenile “taken into
custody” (arrested)
2. Intake: intake officer
evaluates case
5. Probable cause hearing
before a judge (Judge
Peggy Walker for
Douglas County)
3. Detain or release (to
parents)
6. Dismissal, informal
adjustment, or formal
hearing
4. Detained juveniles
sent to YDC (youth
detention center)
7. Sentencing/
Consequences
Georgia’s Seven Deadly Sins Act
• In 1994, the General Assembly made a law about violent youth
crime.
• Juveniles could be treated as adults by the courts if charged
with crimes such as:
1. Murder
2. Voluntary Manslaughter
3. Rape
4. Sodomy
5. Child Molestation
6. Sexual Battery
7. Armed robbery with a firearm
• Superior courts handle these cases, not juvenile courts.
• Mandatory 10-year sentences were a part of the new law.
Rights of Juveniles
• Juveniles have the right to a fair and
speedy trial.
• There are no juries in juvenile cases.
• Parents or guardians may be present at
hearings.
• An attorney must be provided if child’s
parents cannot afford one.
Thursday’s HOT’S: Questions
Ticket out the Door Question
In your own words, what is the Seven Deadly
Sins Act that the General Assembly made law
in 1994?
QUIZ
TOMORROW
STUDY THE
WEEKLY
HOTS!!!!!
The First Five
December 13, 2013
Agenda Message: Unit 5 CDA = Wednesday & Unit 6
CDA = Thursday
• Collect last night’s homework for a grade
Today’s Warm-up:
Respond to the following Juvenile Justice System
questions (Think-Pair-Share):
• Allison is caught at her neighbor’s house during a
party with an alcoholic drink in her hand. What
type of behavior would this be classified as? What
will happen to her? If Allison is caught again with
an alcoholic drink what might happen to her?
The First Five
December 12, 2013
Agenda Message: Complete Juvenile Justice System
worksheet
Today’s Warm-up:
Delinquent juveniles are those who…
A. commit traffic offenses.
B. Neglected or abused by parents or guardians.
C. Are under 17 years of age and who commit acts that
would be crimes if they were committed by an adult.
D. Are under 18 years of age and who commit acts that
would not be considered crimes if they were
committed by adults.
Ticket Out the Door
1. By Georgia law, who is considered a juvenile?
2. What is the difference between a delinquent
act and a status offense?