Unit 7 VOCAB: Judicial Branch (HMSCivics)

legal system with both state and federal courts

• dual court system

• concurrent jurisdiction

• concurring opinion

a court’s authority to hear cases

Hint: It can be original, concurrent, appellate or exclusive!

• docket

• caseload

• jurisdiction

official decision by a court

• brief

• ruling

• opinion

written document presented to the court that explains one side in a case

• brief

• ruling

• opinion

explanation of legal thinking behind a court’s ruling

Hint: It can be concurrent, dissenting, or unanimous.

• brief

• ruling

• opinion

a law used as basis of a decision in a later case

• writ of certiorari

• stare decisis

• precedent

formal written request to a higher court (appeal or supreme) to hear your case

• writ of certiorari

• stare decisis

• precedent

Latin for "let the decision stand"...using earlier judicial rulings as a basis for deciding cases

• writ of certiorari

• stare decisis

• precedent

a party in a lawsuit

• litigant

• docket

• tenure

a court's calendar showing its schedule of cases

• litigant

• docket

• tenure