Civil Cases
civil case/suit: a legal action one party brings against another, no crime committed.
lawsuit: a legal action brought against a person/group to collect damages for some harm that has been done
-suit of equity: kind of lawsuit that seeks fair treatment in a situation where there is no law
*in attempt to prevent a damaging action from taking place
(example: a road is being built near a playground, children could be harmed or kidnapped)
-injunction: court order commanding a person/group to stop a certain action
Basic steps in the court procedure in civil cases:
1. plaintiff hires an attorney who files a complaint
2. court sends the defendant a summons
3. defendant's attorney files a written answer, attorneys exchange pleadings
4. attorneys present sides of the case and await a verdict
Criminal Cases
-penal code: the criminal laws of a state
-federal penal code
Types of Crimes:
Hung Jury (album)
English: Engraving of Gilbert and Sullivan's Trial...
Old Court House, Eyrecourt, Co. Galway - geograph....1. Crimes against people (examples: murder, rape, assault, kidnapping, manslaughter)
2. Crimes against property (examples: vandalism, larceny[theft, burglary], arson, fraud)
3. Victimless crimes: crimes against morality, no victim to bring complaint; hard to enforce (examples: unauthorized gambling, use of illegal drugs)
Court proceedings in criminal cases:
1. Arrest suspect
2. Preliminary hearing
3. indictment
4. arraignment
5. trial
6. deliberation
*Aquittal= not guilty, Sentencing= guilty, Mistrial=hung jury
plea bargain= plead guilty to a lesser offense