1. State Judicial Branch

2. What is the purpose of the courts?

3.  The courts protect citizens from abuses by government by ensuring that each citizen has “due process of law.”

4. What are the 3 levels of courts in Georgia?

5. The three levels of courts in Georgia are  State Supreme Court  Court of Appeals  Trial Courts

6. How are judges selected for the court system in Georgia?

7.  Judges are elected for 6 year terms  If a judge dies, resigns or is impeached the governor appoints someone for the remainder of the term

8. Which are appellate courts and what is their function?

9.  Appellate Courts - Supreme Court and Court of Appeals  Review cases from lower courts

10. What type of case must the Georgia Supreme Court hear on appeal?

11.  Supreme Court must hear appeals in which the death penalty is given as the sentence.

12. Which courts come under Trial Courts?

13. Trial Courts  Superior Court  State Court  Juvenile Court  Probate Court  Magistrate Court  Municipal Court

14. What types of cases are heard in Trial Courts?

15.  Trial courts hear original criminal and civil cases.

16. What is the difference between criminal and civil trials

17.  Civil trials deal with disputes between two or more persons or groups  criminal trials involve violations of the law.

18. What is due process?

19.  US Constitution says no state can deprive any citizen of life, liberty, or property without due process of law. A person arrested for a crime has a right to have a lawyer present during questioning. A person must be given a speedy, public trial before a fair judge and jury. They may face and question witnesses or they can remain silent so as not to incriminate (blame) themselves.

20. Types of Courts

22.  Municipal Court – Limited jurisdiction ordinance violations, criminal preliminaries, traffic  Magistrate Court - Limited jurisdiction, search and arrest warrants, felony and misdemeanor preliminaries, county ordinances  Probate Court – limited jurisdiction, exclusive jurisdiction in probate of wills, administration of estates, appointment of guardians, involuntary hospitalizations, marriage licenses

23.  Juvenile Court – limited jurisdiction, deprived, unruly, delinquent juveniles, juvenile traffic  State Court – limited jurisdiction, civil law cases except cases within the exclusive jurisdiction of the Superior Court  Superior Court – General jurisdiction, civil law actions, misdemeanors and other cases, exclusive jurisdiction over divorce, title to land and felonies

24.  Court of Appeals – Appellate jurisdiction over trial courts in cases which the Supreme Court has no exclusive appellate jurisdiction  Supreme Court – Appellate jurisdiction over cases of constitutional issues, title to land, validity of wills, habeas corpus, divorce, election contests, convictions of capital felonies, certified questions from Court of Appeals