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Judicial notes
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Crime | Any act that breaks the law and for which a punishment has been established |
| Criminal law | Part of the legal system that deals with crimes, or actions that are harmful or dangerous to society |
| Civil law | Resolving disagreements between individuals or groups, not against the state |
| Common law | Law that develops from judges' decisions |
| Precedent | An earlier court decision that guides judges' decisions in later cases |
| Constitutional law | Law based on the US Constitution and Supreme court decisions |
| Appeal | The right of a convicted person to ask a higher court to review their case |
| Jurisdiction | The area of authority to hear a court case and enforce the law |
| District courts | Lower federal courts that have original jurisdiction in most cases involving federal law |
| Courts of appeals | Federal courts that review decisions appealed from district courts |
| Justices | Title given to judges' of the supreme court |
| Judicial review | The power of the supreme court; it determines if a law passed by congress or a presidential action goes against the constitution |
| opinion | A written statement by the US supreme court explaining its reasoning behind a decision |
| Concurring opinion | A statement written by a supreme court justice who agrees with the majority's decision but for different reasons |
| Dissenting opinion | A statement written by a supreme court justice who disagrees with the majority's decision |