Transcript The Judicial System

The Judicial System
Interpreting the Law
GA Studies
Two Types of Courts
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Trial Court: people’s actions are measured
against the law
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Two ways decision are made:
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Jury trial
Judge decides
Appellate Court: looks over judgments made by
trial courts
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If a person thinks a mistake was made in their trial,
they can appeal to an appellate court
Appellate court decides if a mistake was made
No jury trials
Jurisdiction
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Geographical area over which a court has
authority
Kinds of cases a court can judge
Selection of Judges
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Three ways:
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Partisan Election: person runs for judge as
member of political party
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Nonpartisan Election: candidates are not
associated with party
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Election can be at local, county, or state level
Election can be at local, county, or state level
Appointed by higher level judge
Types of Law seen in Trial Courts
1.
Civil Law: Person or group of people
complains that someone has done them
wrong.
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Plaintiff: person who files complaint
Defendant: person accused doing something
wrong
If the plaintiff is successful in the case, the
defendant will usually have to pay monetary
damages
Types of Law seen in Trial Courts
2. Criminal Law: the government (local,
state, or national) claims a person has
committed a crime
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Prosecutor: government
Defendant: person accused of crime
If found government can successfully
prosecute the case, person will be found
guilty and punished
Punishment can be fine, jail, or both
Classes of Courts
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Appellate Courts: Judges chosen by
people in state-level nonpartisan elections
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Supreme Court (highest)
Court of Appeals (handles appeals from
superior, state, and juvenile court cases)
Classes of Courts
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Trial Courts: (how judges are chosen listed
with each)
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Superior Courts (civil, misdemeanor, & felony cases) –
Jury Trials- Nonpartisan election (circuit)
State Courts (misdemeanor, civil, & traffic violations)
– Jury Trials- Nonpartisan election (county)
Probate Courts (handle wills, inheritances, marriage &
farm licenses) – Jury Trials in small counties –
Partisan elections (county)
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Magistrate Courts (arrest & search warrants, small
civil cases) – No Jury Trials- Nonpartisan elections
Juvenile Courts (juvenile cases) – No Jury Trials –
Judges appointed by Superior Court Judges
Settling Disputes Peacefully
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Often cases can be settled out of court without a
judge or attorney, but with the use of a
mediator (third party with no interest in the
problem)
A mediator helps both sides reach a compromise
by using problem solving and communication
skills to come to an agreement
It is important to realize that words can often
solve a problem (without force or weapons)