Subdecks (2)

Cards (56)

  • The United States has a separate court system from the states, whose organization and jurisdiction are derived from the Constitution and federal laws.
  • Judicial Review
    the power given to the Supreme Courts of the US and Virginia to interpret the constitutionality of laws and acts of the executive branch
  • Judicial review was established at the national level with the Supreme Court case of Marbury vs. Madison
  • Virginia has its own court system whose organization and jurisdiction comes from Virginia’s Constitution and state laws
  • Magistrates issue search warrants, subpoenas, arrest warrants, and set bail in the Virginia Court System
  • United States Court System (in order)
    1. US District Court
    2. Run by judge and jury
    3. Jurisdiction: original (all cases start here)
    4. US Court of Appeals
    5. Run by justices and no jury (3-panel judges)
    6. Jurisdiction: appellate only
    7. US Supreme Court
    8. Run by justices and no jury
    9. Jurisdiction: appellate and limited original
  • Virginia Courts System
    1. General District Court
    2. Run by: Judge
    3. Jurisdiction: original jurisdiction of misdemeanors and civil cases with low money
    or
    1. Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court
    2. Run by: judge/no jury
    3. Jurisdiction: original over juvenile and family cases
    4. Circuit Court
    5. Run by: judge and jury
    6. Original jurisdiction for felonies and civil cases with high money; Appellate from district courts
    7. Court of Appeals of Virginia
    8. Run by: judge/no jury
    9. Jurisdiction: Appellate jurisdiction
    10. Virginia Supreme Court
    11. Run by: justices/no jury
    12. Jurisdiction: Appellate and limited original jurisdiction
  • US Court System (most powerful to less powerful): Supreme Court, Federal Courts, State Courts, Courts of Appeals, District Courts
  • Virginia Court System (most to least powerful): Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, Circuit Courts, District Courts/Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court
  • A mnemonic to remember the federal court: if you commit a federal crime, you will be SAD (Supreme, Appeals, District)
  • You need a valid reason to appeal
  • A plaintiff is the party who sues in a civil case, while the prosecutor is the party who sues in a criminal case