Inferior courts

The lower federal courts, beneath the Supreme Court

Jurisdiction

The authority of a court to hear a case

Exclusive jurisdiction

Power of the federal courts alone to hear certain cases

Concurrent jurisdiction

Power shared by federal and State courts to hear certain cases

Plaintiff

In civil law, the party who brings a suit or some other legal action against another (the degendant) in court

Defendant

In a civil suit, the person against whom a court action is brought by the plaintiff; in a criminal case, the person charged with the crime

Original jurisdiction

The power of a court to hear a case first, before and other court

Apellate jurisdiction

The authority of a court to review decisions of inferior (lower) courts

Criminal case

A case in which a defendant is tried for committing a crime as defined by the law

Civil case

A case involving a noncriminal matter such as a contract dispute or a claim of patent infringement

Docket

A court's list of cases to be heard

writ of certiorari

Un'ordare per un certa hirere sta directiende un'lovvo certo sendere up gli ecuorddo in una case gavve per revosso; di la menni latino "essere certanno"

Writ of certiorari

An order byu a higher court directing a lower court to send up the record in a given case for review; from the Latin meaning "to be more certain"

Certificate

A method of putting a case before the Supreme Court; used when a lower court is not clear about the procedure or rule of law that should applu in a case and asks the Supreme Court to certify the answer to a specific question

Majority opinion

Officially called the Opinion of the Court; announces the Court's decision in a case and sets out the reasoning upon which it is based

Precedent

Court decision that stands as an example to be followed in future, similar cases

Concurring opinion

Written explantion of the views of one or more judges who support a decision reached by a mojority of the court, but wish to add or emphasize a point that was not made in the makority decision 

Dissenting opinion

Written explanation of the ciews of one or more judges who disagree with (dissent from) a decision reached by a majority of the court

Redress

Satisfaction of a claim payment

Civilian tribunal

A court operating as a part of the judicial branch, entirely separate from the military establishment

Court-martial

A court composed of military personnel, for the trial of thos accused of violating military law