What is admiralty and maritime law? | Law derived from the general maritime law of nations, modified by Congress. Applicable not only on the high seas but also on all navigable waterways in the United States. |
What did the Supreme Court hold in Baker v. Carr? | U. S. Supreme Court ruling (1962) that legislative apportionment could be challenged and reviewed by federal courts. |
What is bankruptcy? | Legal procedure under federal law by which a person is relieved of all debts after placing all property under the court |
What is a Writ of Certiorari? | Writ issued by the U. S. Supreme Court, at its discretion, to order a lower court to prepare the record of a case and send it to the Court for review. Most cases come to the Court as petitions for writs of certiorari. |
What was the Constitutional Convention? | Convention in Philadelphia in 1787 that framed the Constitution of the United States. |
What are constitutional courts? | Federal courts created by Congress under its power under Article III of the Constitution to create courts inferior to the Supreme Court. |
What is a court of last resort? | Court from which there is no appeal. |
What is a diversity case (diversity of citizenship case)? | Specific type of federal lawsuit between citizens of two different states in which the amount in controversy exceeds $50,000. |
What are divisions (in federal court system)? | In federal courts, places where U. S. district courts conduct business within the district. |
What is the dual court system? | Court system consisting of a separate judicial structure for each state in addition to a national structure. Each case is tried in a court of the same jurisdiction as that of the law or laws involved. |
What is geographical jurisdiction? | Physical area over which courts can hear and decide disputes. |
Define hierarchical jurisdiction. | Refers to differences in the functions of courts and involves original as opposed to appellate jurisdiction. |
What is jurisdiction? | Power of a court to hear a case in question. |
What are legislative courts? | Judicial bodies created by the U. S. Congress under Article I (legislative article) and not Article III (judicial article). |
Who is a magistrate? | Judicial officer having jurisdiction to try minor criminal cases and conduct preliminary examinations of persons charged with serious crimes. |
What did the Supreme Court hold in Marbury v. Madison? | U. S. Supreme Court ruling (1803) that established the power of the Court to review acts of Congress and declare invalid those it found in conflict with the Constitution. |
What is a panel? | Group of appellate judges, less than the full membership of the court, assigned to review a case on appeal. |
What is a penitentiary? | A federal prison for people convicted of serious crimes. |
What is reapportionment? | Redrawing of legislative district lines to reflect changed conditions. Typically, in the United States, performed to reflect population shifts following each decennial census. |
What is a record (court record)? | Written or taped account of all of the acts and proceedings in an action or suit in a court of record. |
Rule of four? | Tradition of the U. S. Supreme Court whereby a vote of four justices grants certiorari, and the Court agrees to hear the case. |
What is search and seizure? | Search for and taking of persons and property as evidence of a crime. |
What are specialized federal courts? | Courts authorized to hear a limited range of cases, such as taxes or patents. |
What is subject matter jurisdiction? | Types of cases that courts have been authorized to hear and decide. |
What is a treaty? | Formal agreement between or among sovereign states creating rights and obligations under international law. In the United States, all treaties must be ratified by a two- thirds vote of the Senate. |
What is a trial court? | Judicial body with primarily original jurisdiction in civil or criminal cases. Juries are used and evidence is presented. |
What is a writ of certiorari? | Writ issued by the U.S. Supreme Court, at its discretion, to order a lower court to prepare the record of a case and send it to the Court for review. Most cases come to the Court as petitions for writs of certiorari. |