CRJ 104 Exam 3 Questions with Verified Solutions Latest Update 2025/2026
State Trial Court - Answers Civil or criminal courts in which cases are decided through an
adversarial process; typically including a court of last resort, an appellate court, trial courts, and
lower courts.
Adversarial process: a legal process wherein there is a contest between two opposing sides,
and with a judge (and possibly jury) sitting as an imperial arbiter, seeking truth.
General jurisdiction: these courts have the legal authority to decide all matters not specifically
delegated by state law to the lower courts of limited jurisdiction.
About 90% of all the cases heard in the American court system happen at the state level.
Examples include:
A crime that is a violation of state law. Most criminal activity falls in this category, such as
robbery, assault, murder, and many drug-related crimes.
Federal Trial Court - Answers The four tiered federal system that includes supreme courts,
circuit courts of appeal, district courts, magistrate courts.
Limited jurisdiction
What factors determine a courts jurisdiction? - Answers The authority of a court to hear a
particular type of case, based on geography (city, state, federal) and subject matter (e.g.,
criminal, civil, probate).
Appeals Court - Answers In state court- the first is intermediate courts of appeals.
Intermediate court of appeals: start courts that stand between trial courts and courts of last
resort; they typically have appellate jurisdiction only, that is they only hear appeals.
Courts of last resort: the last court that may hear a case at the state or federal level; referred to
as the State Supreme Court. Used for example, lowing a death penalty verdict, also for
determining state laws.
District Courts - Answers Trial courts at the county, state, or federal level with general and
original jurisdiction. Nearly all civil or criminal cases heard in the federal courts are initiated at
the district court level.
Circuit Courts of Appeals - Answers Intermediate court on the federal level.
U.S Supreme Court - Answers Primary a court of appeals.
The highest court in the nation, has ultimate jurisdiction over all Federal courts, as well as over
state courts in cases involving issues of federal law; it is the final interpreter of federal
constitutional law.
, The losing party in a lower court case must request entry onto the court's calendar. The justices
then decide whether to hear the case, the crucial factor being whether the case can shed new
light on an issue of Constitutional law. The Court hears about 80 of the 7,000-8,000 cases that
compete for a spot on the court's calendar each year.
What document do you submit to the US Supreme Court to ask them to review a case? -
Answers writ of certiorari-- an order from a high court directing a lower court to send the record
of a case for review.
"Rule of Four" - Answers If four justices decide to review a case-- to grant cert, the court will hear
the case.
Does the case concern an issue of constitiutional or legal importance? Does it fall within the
Court's jurisdiction (the court can only hear cases that are mandated by Congress or the
Constitution)?
What's the difference between a public defender and a private defense attorney? - Answers The
main difference between the two is the caseload. Generally public defenders are unable to
provide undivided attention to their clients because they have an overwhelming caseload. Some
public defenders have a caseload that can reach 200-300 cases per year.
Also, because public defenders function on limited budgets, you may not have access to all of
the investigative resources and experts that private criminal defense lawyers have connections
to.
Criminal defense lawyers make their clients a priority, and try to balance their personal needs
with their obligations to their clients.
If you are accused of a crime, your freedom, your family, your reputation, your immigration
status, and your job may be at stake. The outcome you receive in the criminal justice system
depends upon the experience and knowledge of the criminal defense attorney you choose to
represent you.
Prosecutorial Immunity - Answers the absolute immunity that prosecutors in the United States
have in initiating a prosecution and presenting the state's case.
What is our adversarial system of justice - who are the adversaries? - Answers a legal process
wherein there is a contest between two opposing sides, and with a judge (and possibly jury)
sitting as an imperial arbiter, seeking truth.
State Trial Court - Answers Civil or criminal courts in which cases are decided through an
adversarial process; typically including a court of last resort, an appellate court, trial courts, and
lower courts.
Adversarial process: a legal process wherein there is a contest between two opposing sides,
and with a judge (and possibly jury) sitting as an imperial arbiter, seeking truth.
General jurisdiction: these courts have the legal authority to decide all matters not specifically
delegated by state law to the lower courts of limited jurisdiction.
About 90% of all the cases heard in the American court system happen at the state level.
Examples include:
A crime that is a violation of state law. Most criminal activity falls in this category, such as
robbery, assault, murder, and many drug-related crimes.
Federal Trial Court - Answers The four tiered federal system that includes supreme courts,
circuit courts of appeal, district courts, magistrate courts.
Limited jurisdiction
What factors determine a courts jurisdiction? - Answers The authority of a court to hear a
particular type of case, based on geography (city, state, federal) and subject matter (e.g.,
criminal, civil, probate).
Appeals Court - Answers In state court- the first is intermediate courts of appeals.
Intermediate court of appeals: start courts that stand between trial courts and courts of last
resort; they typically have appellate jurisdiction only, that is they only hear appeals.
Courts of last resort: the last court that may hear a case at the state or federal level; referred to
as the State Supreme Court. Used for example, lowing a death penalty verdict, also for
determining state laws.
District Courts - Answers Trial courts at the county, state, or federal level with general and
original jurisdiction. Nearly all civil or criminal cases heard in the federal courts are initiated at
the district court level.
Circuit Courts of Appeals - Answers Intermediate court on the federal level.
U.S Supreme Court - Answers Primary a court of appeals.
The highest court in the nation, has ultimate jurisdiction over all Federal courts, as well as over
state courts in cases involving issues of federal law; it is the final interpreter of federal
constitutional law.
, The losing party in a lower court case must request entry onto the court's calendar. The justices
then decide whether to hear the case, the crucial factor being whether the case can shed new
light on an issue of Constitutional law. The Court hears about 80 of the 7,000-8,000 cases that
compete for a spot on the court's calendar each year.
What document do you submit to the US Supreme Court to ask them to review a case? -
Answers writ of certiorari-- an order from a high court directing a lower court to send the record
of a case for review.
"Rule of Four" - Answers If four justices decide to review a case-- to grant cert, the court will hear
the case.
Does the case concern an issue of constitiutional or legal importance? Does it fall within the
Court's jurisdiction (the court can only hear cases that are mandated by Congress or the
Constitution)?
What's the difference between a public defender and a private defense attorney? - Answers The
main difference between the two is the caseload. Generally public defenders are unable to
provide undivided attention to their clients because they have an overwhelming caseload. Some
public defenders have a caseload that can reach 200-300 cases per year.
Also, because public defenders function on limited budgets, you may not have access to all of
the investigative resources and experts that private criminal defense lawyers have connections
to.
Criminal defense lawyers make their clients a priority, and try to balance their personal needs
with their obligations to their clients.
If you are accused of a crime, your freedom, your family, your reputation, your immigration
status, and your job may be at stake. The outcome you receive in the criminal justice system
depends upon the experience and knowledge of the criminal defense attorney you choose to
represent you.
Prosecutorial Immunity - Answers the absolute immunity that prosecutors in the United States
have in initiating a prosecution and presenting the state's case.
What is our adversarial system of justice - who are the adversaries? - Answers a legal process
wherein there is a contest between two opposing sides, and with a judge (and possibly jury)
sitting as an imperial arbiter, seeking truth.
