Chapter 10: Origins and Organization of Courts

Timothy McVeigh was convicted for bombing the Oklahoma City federal office building, a crime that killed 168 people. This case was a domestic terrorism, the worst in U.S. history at that time, provoked nationwide anger as well as fear that it was part of a larger criminal conspiracy. A major difference between trials today and trials today and trials in the earlier centuries is the absence of lawyers in most trials in times past, furthermore, in felony trials. Eye witness is a person that calls to testify because of his or her special expertise in an area at issue in a legal proceeding. State Court Systems are like Limited and General Jurisdictions which are the courts of limited jurisdiction, such as municipal courts, usually their legal authority is restricted to certain specific cases. As well as Apellate Courts although which is that highest level of state court systems, they usually have a panel of three to ten judges or justices who hear arguments in cases that are referred to them from lower courts. The Federal Court Systems are like the U.S. district Courts which the Federal trial courts of general jurisdiction and the U.S. courts of appeals which is an Intermediate federal appellate courts. Also, The U.S. Supreme Court which is the highest court in the United States, which hears final appeals in cases involving federal law, suits between states, and interpretations of the U.S. Constitution. Four types of cases in which the U.S. Supreme Court must render an opinion is 1. When an act of Congress has been found unconstitutional in a lower federal court. 2. When a state supreme court has found a federal law unconstitutional. 3. When a U.S. court of appeals has found a state law unconstitutional. and 4. When a constitutional challenge of state law has been upheld by a state supreme court. Prosecutors are elected or appointed officials who represent the community in bringing charges against an accused person. District Attorneys is the name for city and county prosecutors in many jurisdictions. Defense Attorneys represent the legal rights of accused persons in criminal proceedings. Assigned counsel is a private attorney appointed by the court on a case by case basis from a list of available attorneys. Public Defenders are Salaried attorneys paid by the government to represent indigents charged with crimes. Judge is a person who objectively assesses the strength of a case, rules on issues of law and procedure, and in many cases determines the disposition of a case. Victims' Bill of Rights are Legal Changes that formally recognize the role and rights of victims in the justice process.