Quizlet Chapter 8

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  1. amicus curae: "friend of the court" individuals or groups who are not parties to a lawsuit but seek to assist the court in reaching a decision by presenting additional briefs
  2. briefs: written documents in which attorneys explain why the court should rule in favor of their client
  3. Chief Justice: justice on the supreme court who presides over the court's public decisions
  4. Civil law: a system of jurisprudent, including private law and governmental actions, to settle disputes that do not involve a criminal action
  5. class action suit: a lawsuit in which large numbers of persons with common interests join togerther under representative party to bring or defend a lawsuit
  6. court of appeals: a court that hears the appeals of a trial court decisions
  7. Due Process: the right of every citizen against arbitrary action by national or state gov'ts
  8. in forma pauperis petitions: fees and most other requirements waved for indigent petitioners
  9. judicial restraint: words in the constitution
  10. Judicial review: power of the courts to declare actions of the legislative and executive branches invalid or unconstitutional
  11. Jurisdiction: the sphere of a courts power and authority
  12. Law clerks: every federal judge employs law clerks to research legal issues and assist with preparation of opinions
  13. mootness: criterion used by courts to screen cases that no longer require resolution
  14. Petitioner's Brief: Document filed by the party bringing the appeal stating the facts of a case and reasons why the lower court's opinion should be overturned
  15. Plaintiff: individual or organization who brings complaint to court
  16. precedents: prior cases whose principles are used by judges as the bases for their decisions in present cases
  17. Regular concurrence: concurring opinion that agrees with the outcome and majority's rationale but highlights a particular legal point
  18. special concurrence: agree with the majority, but not with the same reasons
  19. Standing: the right of an individual or organization to initiate a court case
  20. stare decisis: "let the decision stand" a previous decision by a court applies a precedent in similar cases until that decision is over ruled
  21. trial court: the first court to hear a criminal case
  22. Writ of Appeal: writ that may be issued to accept appeals, mainly from the decisions of a 3 judge district
  23. Writ of certification: writ issued when a U.S. court appeals asks the supreme court for instructions on a point of law that has never been decided
  24. writ of certiorari: aa decision concurred in by at least 4 of the 9 supreme court justices to review a decision of a lower court
  25. Writ of habeas corpus: a court order demanding that an inividual in custody be brought into court and shown cause of detention