The judiciary is responsible for interpreting laws, resolving legal conflicts, and sentencing violations. It is separate from the legislative body and made up of judges and courts. Legal systems have existed since ancient times, with English common law and the French Napoleonic code being influential. Judges must be well-versed in the law and most begin as lawyers. The judiciary administers both criminal and civil cases, with a hierarchy of courts allowing for appeals. The Supreme Court can alter the interpretation of the law.
The judiciary is the branch of government that deals with the interpretation of a nation’s laws, the resolution of legal conflicts, and the sentencing of violations of the law. The judicial system, also known as the judiciary, is made up of judges and courts. The judicial system is deliberately kept separate from the nation’s legislative body, such as a parliament or congress, which makes or abolishes the nation’s laws as part of the political process. Lawyers are specialists who study the law to help clients navigate the justice system.
Legal systems of various kinds have existed since the dawn of civilization. Precedents of the modern judicial system include ancient Greek and Roman law and the parliamentarians of medieval Scandinavia. English common law established by Magna Carta is the most direct ancestor of many current legal systems. The French Napoleonic code was also influential in replacing local customs with a set of laws and courts. By the 18th century, many countries around the world had developed some form of judicial system.
In many nations, the law is established by a constitution or similar document created when the nation was founded. The legislature then creates additional laws that are intended to bring the spirit of the constitution into specific situations. It is the responsibility of the judiciary to determine whether these new laws are, in fact, true to the intent of the constitution. Because of this, judges must be extremely well versed in the laws of the nation. Most begin their careers as a lawyer before moving to the judicial bench.
The judiciary is best known for its administration of criminal court cases. Anyone caught violating a law must ultimately face a judge, who will determine whether the violation has occurred, the seriousness of the offense and the penalty. Judges are aided in this process by their understanding of the law, their interpretation of its meaning, and, in some cases, a jury or panel of fellow judges. Most court cases, however, involve civil law, such as trademark or copyright infringement, bankruptcy, or individual lawsuits. In the United States, 80% of court cases involve civil law, while only 20% involve criminal cases.
In the United States and many other nations, the judiciary contains a hierarchy, with higher court judges possessing the authority to amend or reverse previous decisions made by lower court judges. This establishes an appeals system. The loser of a case in a lower court can appeal to a higher court to have the verdict reversed. As long as they can afford the attorney fees, the parties can continue to appeal until they reach the highest court, known as the Supreme Court in the United States and the High Court in Australia and other English-speaking nations. The sentences of this supreme court can determine not only the final outcome of the case, but in some cases they can alter the interpretation of the law itself.
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