court system
Where trials happen
A court system is the network of courts within a jurisdiction that handles legal disputes and criminal cases.
Most court systems are hierarchical: lower courts conduct trials, while higher courts hear appeals.
The case worked its way through the court system for years.
Different court systems handle different matters—federal courts, state courts, family courts, bankruptcy courts.
Legal dispute process
- arraignmentCharge-reading court session
- trialJudicial examination of claims
- hearingPerceiving sound waves
- appealFormal review request
docket · filing · adjudication · sentencing · deliberation · ruling · proceedings · motion
One who decides
- magistrateCivil judicial officer
- justiceFair treatment under law
- bailiffLegal proceeding overseer
- clerkOffice record-keeper
prosecutor · public defender · juror · attorney · counsel · advocate · litigant · plaintiff
Guaranteed judicial fairness
- equal protectionUniform legal treatment
- rule of lawSupremacy of established laws
- judicial independenceFreedom of courts from control
- separation of powersConstitutional distribution of authority
precedent · habeas corpus · presumption of innocence · burden of proof · right to counsel · speedy trial · fair trial · judicial review
Law-interpreting government branch
- tribunalJudicial decision-making body
- small claimsLow-value legal actions
Divided governmental authority
original · exclusive · concurrent · subject matter · territorial · personal · civil · criminal
litigation
Legal dispute process
- arraignmentCharge-reading court session
- trialJudicial examination of claims
- hearingPerceiving sound waves
appeal · docket · filing · adjudication · sentencing · deliberation · ruling · proceedings · motion · continuance
judge
One who decides
- magistrateCivil judicial officer
- justiceFair treatment under law
- bailiffLegal proceeding overseer
clerk · prosecutor · public defender · juror · attorney · counsel · advocate · litigant · plaintiff · defendant
due process
Guaranteed judicial fairness
- equal protectionUniform legal treatment
- rule of lawSupremacy of established laws
- judicial independenceFreedom of courts from control
separation of powers · precedent · habeas corpus · presumption of innocence · burden of proof · right to counsel · speedy trial · fair trial · judicial review · checks and balances
judiciary
Law-interpreting government branch
- tribunalJudicial decision-making body
- small claimsLow-value legal actions
federal
Divided governmental authority
appellate · original · exclusive · concurrent · subject matter · territorial · personal · civil · criminal · admiralty
- Formal Structureshierarchy, bureaucracy, government, corporation, committee
- Canadian GovernmentHouse of Commons, Senate, Prime Minister, federal government, parliamentary democracy
- legal topicsconstitutional law, criminal code, legal procedures, administrative law, federal law
- Caribbean Lawconstitutional law, criminal code, legal history
- Chinese lawcriminal code, marriage law, inheritance law, judicial reform, penal servitude
- French LawNapoleonic Code, magistrates, judiciary, prosecutors, advocates
court systemlegislature
Lawmaking governmental branch
executive branch · legislative branch · parliament · executive · presidency
court systemout-of-court settlement
Resolution bypassing formal litigation
vigilante justice · mob justice · arbitration · mediation · negotiation
court systemvigilante justice
Unauthorized punishment by civilians
mob justice · lynch mob · lawlessness · anarchy · vigilantism
court, system, courtesy, courteous, courts, courtship, courting, courthouse, courtly