| State Appellate Court Performance Standards |
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| The appellate court system's role is to review the decisions of trial courts and administrative agencies. Most states have a two-tier appellate court system that consists of an intermediate appellate court (usually called the court of appeals) and a court of last resort (usually called the supreme court). The trial court or administrative decision is first appealed to the intermediate appellate court. A further appeal is then available to the court of last resort. The Appellate Court Performance Standards Commission was set up to recommend performance standards for state appellate courts. More... |
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| Venue in Civil Lawsuits |
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| Venue refers to the location (city, town, or county) where a trial should be held. Each state has rules for determining the correct venue for filing a lawsuit. Improper venue is not a ground for dismissing a lawsuit. A defendant can waive or give up his right to claim improper venue. Either party can request a change of venue. More... |
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| Racial Profiling and the Criminal Justice System |
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| Racial profiling refers to the law enforcement practice of using race as a factor in deciding who is a suspicious person that should be investigated. Racial profiling is illegal.
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| Guardianship |
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| A guardian is a person appointed by the court to act on behalf of a person who is considered legally incompetent. A person is presumed to be competent. However, someone can file a petition for guardianship with the court detailing why the person needs a guardian. If the court finds that the person is incapable of making health, personal, or financial decisions due to illness or disability, the court will appoint a guardian. The incompetent person is called a ward. More... |
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| Federal Rules of Civil Procedure |
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| The U.S. Congress passed a law authorizing the federal judiciary to adopt rules of practice and procedure for federal court proceedings. Congress also created a body called the Judicial Conference of the United States to administer the federal courts. The Supreme Court of the United States can prescribe federal procedural rules, and the Judicial Conference has authority to recommend changes to the rules. Any rules adopted by the Supreme Court are subject to congressional review. More... |
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