The Legal System

Chp. 30

Structure of the Legal SystemTrial Court –

the first court to hear a caseAppellate Court –

has the authority to review the judgment of a lower courtCivil Court –

Has the authority to hear non-criminal casesDivorce, contract or copyright cases

Criminal Court –Hears cases involving punishable offenses against society

Court PersonnelJudge

Presiding officer in the court and is either elected or appointed.Clerk

Keeps records of the proceedings, handles all evidence, administers oath

ReporterKeeps a word by word record of the trial

BailiffMaintain order in the courtroom at the instruction of the judge

JuryBody of citizens sworn by a court to hear the facts submitted during a trial and to render a verdict.

Court Proceedings1. Someone files a complaint, worded in legally

acceptable format called a pleading2. The person at whom the lawsuit is aimed is

served, or receives notice of the suit3. The attorneys for both parties gather information

in a period called discovery4. A trial takes place and the court makes a decision5. The losing party may appeal the decision to a

higher court