1. UNIT V – Judicial Branch and Legal System
The Judicial Process
UNIT V – Judicial Branch and Legal System

2. Purpose of the Court
The court room is a place for resolving multiple types of conflicts
Criminal – guilty/innocent
Civil – suing for money
Family – custody agreements/divorce
The court helps adversaries (people/groups against one another) come to a resolved issue

3. People In The Court Room

4. Adversarial Parties DEFENDANT PLAINTIFF
Person being accused of a crime OR
Person being sued in a civil court
Side that brings the charges against the accused in a criminal case OR
Side that is doing the suing in a civil case

5. Lawyers DEFENSE ATTORNEY PROSECUTION
Legal representation for the defendant in a criminal case
If one cannot be afforded, a public defender will be given to the defendant
Gideon v. Wainwright
Legal representation for the opposing side in a criminal case
Will ALWAYS represent the government
Brings charges against the defendant
Called the DA or ADA

6. Keeping the Peace JUDGE BAILIFF Keeps order in the court room
Makes sure that both lawyers follow procedure and due process
Makes final decisions in misdemeanor and small civil cases
Sheriff’s officer employed to
Execute processes
Make arrests if necessary
Help maintain order

7. Citizens GRAND JURY PETIT JURY 16-23 citizens
Decide if there is enough probable cause to charge a person with a crime
DOES NOT decide innocence/guilt
12 citizens
Decides if a person is innocent/guilty OR
Decides who should win in a civil case

8. Court Proceedings

9. Here is how it goes… (criminal style)
1. After a person is suspected of committing a crime they are ARRESTED
2. Once a person is arrested they are taken to the county jail and BOOKED (mug shot, fingerprints, etc.)
3. A PRELIMINARY HEARING is then set
A GRAND JURY will listen to evidence/probable cause presented by the prosecution to determine if there is enough PROBABLE CAUSE to INDICT (charge) the suspect

10. 4. Suspect then goes to ARRAIGNMENT (usually within 48 hours of INDICTMENT)
Suspect will be told of charges
PLEA of guilty/not guilty/no contest will be entered
Guilty = no trial
Not guilty/no contest = go to trial
BAIL, money given for release until trial, will be set
5. Trial date is then set on the COURT DOCKET (calendar of cases)
6. The defendant will be given a SUMMONS telling them when to come to court

11. 7. Lawyers go to work for each side to create their case, they write BRIEFS to summarize their argument
8. Once the trial begins, each side has the opportunity to give opening statements, call WITNESSES, and present evidence
Witnesses can be forced to come to court by being served a SUBPOENA
Once on the stand a witness must tell the truth, if they lie it is called PERJURY and it is a crime
9. If a case does not look good to either side, PLEA BARGAINING will sometimes take place. This means the defendant will change their plea to guilty for a lesser charge

12. 10. If the case goes to the end, the lawyers will present CLOSING ARGUMENTS and then it will be in the hands of the jury
11. The PETIT JURY will deliberate (discuss) the evidence and come up with a VERDICT of guilty or not guilty
If found guilty, SENTENCING will be set to determine the punishment for the crime
If found not guilty, this is called an AQUITTAL, the defendant will be free to go
12. If found guilty, a case can by APPEALED to a higher court
At the higher levels of court the lawyers will give ORAL ARGUMENTS of their sides to a panel of judges
No juries are used

13. Here is how it goes… (Civil Style)
1. If a person wants to sue another person for money, change a contract, get a divorce, etc. they will file a COMPLAINT with the court. 2. Both the defendant and plaintiff will get lawyers (if desired and necessary) and go to court to present their sides 3. A judge and/or jury will listen to both sides of the case and then decide who the “winner” is and the outcome should be for both parties (who pays/who gains) 4. If an agreement is reached before the end of the case this is known as a PRE-HEARING SETTLEMENT

14. Special Items to Note…
The information on court proceedings will change a little based on where you are and what the crime was, etc.
Every case is different, no two are ever the same, this is just the BASICS!
Our examples were for felony (severe crime) and large civil cases
In misdemeanor (less severe crimes) and small civil cases a judge will usually make a decision, there will be no jury, and lawyers are not always needed