US state supreme courts lack diversity, with 23 states having all-white courts despite people of color making up at least 20% of the population in 12 of those states. Only 15.5% of state supreme court seats are held by people of color. Six states have a higher percentage of non-white judges than their non-white population. […]
Mental health courts are specialized courts that focus on offenders with mental health disorders. They aim to rehabilitate offenders rather than punish them and are part of a trend of problem-solving courts. The specifics vary by region, but generally involve screening, voluntary treatment, and strict adherence to program requirements. Legislative support exists in the US, […]
Statutes are laws passed by legislative bodies, but may need interpretation by courts. Common law systems often require courts to interpret statutes using methods such as examining purpose and history, compliance with other laws, and canons of interpretation. Judges may also rely on ancient building codes. Canons include deference, textual, and substantive rules to guide […]
Private courts, such as mediation or arbitration agencies, are used instead of civil courts to resolve legal disputes. They are often used for family, business, tenant-landlord, or labor law issues. Decisions made in private courts are not always binding, and lawyers are not required. Mediation is non-adversarial and often used in divorce cases, while arbitration […]
The jurisdiction of the US Federal Supreme Court is limited, with original jurisdiction including disputes between states, cases involving US citizens and foreign entities, and cases where the US government is a designated party. The court also has appellate powers and can hear cases that have gone through the appropriate appeal route. A court’s ability […]
Original jurisdiction refers to a court’s right to hear a case for the first time. State and federal courts may have original jurisdiction over different matters, and there are also specialty courts. Appellate and supreme courts typically have limited original jurisdiction. Original jurisdiction refers to the right of a court to hear a case for […]
