The branch of government charged with interpreting and applying the law in civil and criminal matters. Courts are the central means for dispute resolution and play a critical role in providing justice to all people, regardless of wealth or social status. They are also the focal point of democratic ideals such as freedom of speech and assembly.
A judge’s discretionary authority is not totally unfettered; a judge’s decisions in a case must be based on the facts of that particular situation and must follow legal principles. In most cases, judges are bound by the decisions of higher courts (i.e., appellate courts) and by the Constitution of the United States.
In addition to trial courts and superior courts, many states have specialty courts for such topics as family, housing or domestic relations. There are also federal trial and bankruptcy courts, as well as specialized courts for issues such as international trade or taxation.
Objects, such as weapons or drugs, presented in court to prove or disprove something about a case. The party offering evidence must document the chain of custody, which shows who had custody of the object from its seizure until it was offered in court (i.e., who took it, signed it into the locker and when, who removed it from the locker and when).
A formal judicial finding of guilt or innocence in a case or determination that a child is in need of care and protection. The term may also refer to a final decision in a civil or juvenile matter or to a final order of probation.