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Flashcards: Courts & Criminal Process Part 1.
Officer of the court
individuals obliged to follow court rules and be honest and fair in the search for justice.
Normal penalties
courtroom workgroup assessment of proper penalty for typical crimes and criminals.
Impeachment
allegations of wrongdoing similar to a grand jury indictment.
Courts of last resort
highest appellate court having jurisdiction, usually the Supreme Court.
Furman v. Georgia
1972 U.S Supreme Court decision invalidating all state capital
Objection
legal argument in opposition to admission of opponent's evidence.
Preponderance of evidence
standard of proof for conviction in civil law.
Pardon
executive clemency wiping out conviction.
Public defender
salaried public officials representing all indigent defendants within a jurisdiction.
Petty offense
offense for which Sixth Amendment right to jury trial is not available (maximum
Truth in sentencing laws
defendant required to serve substantial portion of prison sentence.
Voir dire
questioning of prospective jurors.
Charge bargaining
bargaining over the offense to which the defendant will plead.
Nolo contendere
no contest plea, criminal equivalent of not guilty, except that it cannot be used against the defendant in a civil case.
Appellant
party filing appeal; losing party in lower court.
Precedent
ruling in a previous case that serves as a guide in subsequent cases.
Courthouse insurgents
prosecutors who are dissatisfied with the status quo and willing to do battle to change it.
Dissenting opinion
opinion of judge who disagrees with majority opinion.
Incapacitation
prevent future crime by this defendant incarcerating or executing this defendant.
Direct evidence
eyewitness testimony.
Appellee
winning party in lower court, opposes appeal.
Type I Offenses
category of UCR offenses involving serious crimes, also referred to as index crimes.
Juvenile courts
special courts set up to deal with juvenile misconduct.
Nonpartisan
refers to the absence of formal political party affiliation.
Probation
sentence allowing offender remain in the community with supervision and conditions.
Stare decisis
Latin for "let the decision stand," doctrine of using precedent in questions of law.
Partisan election
candidate's party affiliation listed on ballot.
Initial hearing
informal hearing at which intake decision is made.
Article I
section of the U.S. Constitution allowing for the legislative branch of federal government.
Adjudicatory hearing
trial.