Flashcards › Unit IV Vocabulary

A written brief from an individual or group claiming to have information useful to a court's consideration of a case; Latin meaning "friend of the court" Amicus Curiae Brief The opinion expressed by a minority of justices in a Supreme Court Dissenting Opinion A Supreme Court decision expressing the views of the majority of justices Majority Opinion A short, unsigned statement of a Supreme Court decision Per Curiam Opinion A ruling on a law or action that has not been challenged Advisory Opinion 5th Amendment states that the government must follow proper constitutional procedures in trials, and in other actions taken against individuals Due Process A model on which to base later decisions or actions Precedent An order from the Supreme Court to a lower to send up the records on a case for review Writ of Certiorari Principle that once the Court rules on a case, its decision serves as precedent on which to base other decisions, Latin meaning "let the decision stand" Stare Decisis The power of the Supreme Court to declare laws and actions of local, state, or national governments unconstitutional Judicial Review The authority of a trial court to be first to hear a case Original Jurisdiction Authority held by a court to hear a case that is appealed from a lower court Appelate Jurisdiction Authority shared by both federal and state courts Concurrent Jurisdiction A formal charge by a grand jury Indictment A trial jury, usually consisting of 6 or 12 people, that weighs the evidence presented at a trial and renders a verdict Petit Jury A group that hears charges against a suspect and decides whether there is sufficient evidence to bring the person to trial Grand Jury A person engaged in a lawsuit Litigant Judicial Branch