1What is adjudication?
The process courts use to settle cases and controversies.
2What are the two levels of courts in the U.S.?
State courts and federal courts.
3What is jurisdiction?
The legal authority of a court to hear a case.
4What is the judiciary?
The system of state and federal courts.
5Who is the plaintiff in a lawsuit?
The aggrieved party in a lawsuit.
6Who are the primary parties in a lawsuit?
The plaintiff and the defendant.
7What are the two types of state courts?
Trial courts and appellate courts.
8What is adjudicating a dispute?
Applying rules of law and principles of equity to resolve a dispute.
9What is a trial court?
A court that adjudicates disputes by hearing arguments, questioning witnesses, and reviewing evidence.
10What is an appellate court?
A court that reviews trial court decisions and sets precedent.
11What is venue?
The most appropriate location to litigate a dispute.
12What is a court of general authority?
A court that hears many types of cases, such as criminal cases or breach of contract.
13What is a court of limited authority?
A court that handles specific types of cases, such as family law or probate issues.
14What is personal jurisdiction?
A court’s authority over the parties in a case.
15What is subject matter jurisdiction?
A court’s authority over the issue in a case.
16What is exclusive jurisdiction?
Jurisdiction only federal courts have, such as U.S. government litigation or bankruptcy cases.
17What is original jurisdiction?
A court's authority to initially hear a case.
18What is concurrent jurisdiction?
Jurisdiction shared between courts.
19What is in rem jurisdiction?
Jurisdiction to determine title to property or real estate.
20What is quasi in rem jurisdiction?
Jurisdiction where property is used to compel a litigant to appear in court.
21What is in personam jurisdiction?
Jurisdiction over a person based on consent or presence.
22How is personal jurisdiction obtained over in-state defendants?
Through the service of the complaint.
23What is a long-arm statute?
A statute allowing jurisdiction over non-residents based on their conduct in the state.
24What must courts ensure when applying a long-arm statute?
That exercising jurisdiction meets fairness and due process requirements.
25What is the minimum contacts requirement?
The defendant must have sufficient connection with the state for jurisdiction to be fair.
26What is the injurious effects test?
It evaluates whether a defendant's actions foreseeably caused harm in the state.
27What are trial courts?
Courts that adjudicate disputes and do not set precedent.
28What do appellate courts do?
They review trial court decisions, set precedent, and determine if trials followed legal rules.
29What is the U.S. Supreme Court?
The ultimate arbiter of federal law.
30How many justices must vote to hear a case in the Supreme Court?
At least four out of nine justices.
31What is a writ of certiorari?
A petition filed to request an appeal to the Supreme Court.
32What is remand?
When an appellate court sends a case back to the lower court for further action.
33What are U.S. district courts?
The principal federal trial courts.
34How are federal judges selected?
By nomination by the President and confirmation by the Senate.
35What is the Zippo continuum?
A test for jurisdiction in online cases based on website activity levels.
36What is a federal question?
A case involving federal common law, a federal statute, regulation, or constitutional issue.
37What is diversity of citizenship?
Federal court jurisdiction over parties from different states with an amount in controversy over \$75,000.
38What is the country of origin standard?
It applies the law of the country where a defendant’s servers are located.
39What is the country of reception standard?
It applies the law of the country where the content is accessed.
40What is the ultimate arbiter of federal law?
The U.S. Supreme Court.