Learning Outcomes

• Identify and define concepts specific to the court processes and actors in the United States
• Summarize the goals, organizations and procedures of the courts

Tasks

1. Read The Legal System in the United States (2.3 – 2.4)***
   • 2.3 The Court System
   • 2.4 The Burden of Proof
2. Watch The Role of the Courts (17 min)****
3. Review the Lectures and Key Terms for**
   • Legal Defenses (Sec 3.4)
   • State and Federal Courts (Sec 5.1)
   • Prosecution and Defense (Sec 5.2)
   • Pretrial Process (Sec 5.3)
   • Criminal Trial (Sec 5.4)
4. Complete the BlackBoard Quizzes for lectures and Key Terms Sec 3.4 & 5.1 – 5.4
5. Read Courts (7.1 – 7.10)*
   • 7.1. Introduction to the U.S. Court System
   • 7.2. Jurisdiction
   • 7.3. Structure of the Courts: The Dual Court and Federal Court System
   • 7.4. Structure of the Courts: State Courts
   • 7.5. American Trial Courts and the Principle of Orality
   • 7.6. The Appeals Process, Standard of Review, and Appellate Decisions
   • 7.7. Federal Appellate Review of State Cases
   • 7.8. Courtroom Players: Judges and Court Staff
   • 7.9. Courtroom Players: Prosecutors
   • 7.10. Courtroom Workgroup: Defense Attorneys
6. Watch FAQs: Juries (40 min)***
7. Complete the Courts Critical ThInking Exercise*

Sources:

*Introduction to the American Criminal Justice System: Open Oregon Educational Resources

**Criminal Justice: An Overview of the System: Adam McKee

***Criminal Law by University of Minnesota textbook

****Annenberg Classroom

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