A Pocket Guide To U.S.

Court Terminology PDF Download

Book Description :

A Pocket Guide to U.S. Court TerminologyUnited States CourtsUnderstanding Court Languag federal courts

are composed of three levels of courts. The Supreme Court of the United States is the court of

last resort. It is generally an appellate court that operates under discretionary review, which means that the

Court can choose which cases to hear, by granting of writs of certiorari. There is generally no right of appeal

to the Supreme Court. In a few situations (like lawsuits between state governments or some cases between the

federal government and a state) it sits as a court of original jurisdiction.The United States courts of appeals are

the intermediate federal appellate courts. They operate under a system of mandatory review which means they

must hear all appeals of right from the lower courts. In some cases, Congress has diverted appellate

jurisdiction to specialized courts, such as the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court of Review.The United

States district courts (one in each of the 94 federal judicial districts, as well three territorial courts) are general

federal trial courts, although in many cases Congress has diverted original jurisdiction to specialized courts,

such as the Court of International Trade, the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court, the Alien Terrorist

Removal Court, or to Article I or Article IV tribunals. The district courts usually have jurisdiction to hear

appeals from such tribunals (unless, for example, appeals are to the Court of Appeals for the Federal

Circuit.)Sample:HHabeas corpusLatin, meaning "you have the body." A writ of habeas corpus generally is a

judicial order forcing law enforcement authorities to produce a prisoner they are holding, and to justify the

prisoner's continued confinement. Federal judges receive petitions for a writ of habeas corpus from state

prison inmates who say their state prosecutions violated federally protected rights in some

way.HearsayEvidence presented by a witness who did not see or hear the incident in question but heard about

it from someone else. With some exceptions, hearsay generally is not admissible as evidence at trial.Home
confinementA special condition the court imposes that requires an individual to remain at home except for

certain approved activities such as work and medical appointments. Home confinement may include the use of

electronic monitoring equipment a transmitter attached to the wrist or the ankle to help ensure that the

person stays at home as required.