Yosha Cook Shartzer & Tisch - Untitled 1

Discretionary Review of a State Court Decision

State Courts of Appeals

Generally, a litigant can file an appeal of a state trial court's final decision as a matter of right. The party filing the appeal usually is called the appellant; the other party is called the...

Aggressive Driving Laws

Observers believe aggressive driving is a growing problem in modern society.

What is aggressive driving?

Aggressive driving refers to unsafe driving behavior that shows a disregard for others on the...

The Jurisdiction of a State Court

Jurisdiction refers to the power of a court to hear and decide a case. The power of a state court to hear a particular case comes from the constitution and laws of that state. For a court's decision to be legally binding, the court must have both...

Federal Court System Overview

The federal court system consists of federal trial courts and two levels of federal appellate courts--courts of appeals and the Supreme Court of the United States.

Lowest Level

There are 94 U.S....

Influences Affecting Judicial Decision-Making

The independence of the judiciary is a central principle of a democracy. Judicial independence permits judges to make rulings based on legal principles instead of politics or public opinion. An independent court system allows fair and impartial...