General Litigation
| Service of Process -- Notice of a Lawsuit |
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| A lawsuit begins when a plaintiff (the party suing) files a complaint with the clerk of courts. The defendant (the person or company being sued) is given notice that a lawsuit has been filed and is "summoned" to appear before the court. Service of process means that the defendant is given notice of the lawsuit and a copy of the complaint that was filed. More... |
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| Guardians ad Litem |
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| Guardian ad litem is a Latin term meaning "guardian at law." A guardian ad litem is a person appointed by the court to speak on behalf of a child and to protect the rights of the child during court proceedings. In some states, a guardian ad litem has to be a licensed attorney. In other states, a guardian ad litem does not have to be an attorney but must have special training and/or certification to be eligible to perform the functions of a guardian ad litem.
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| Criminal Cases |
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| A criminal case begins when the prosecutor files criminal charges against a person, a person is arrested, or the grand jury returns an indictment against a person. Criminal offenses are either misdemeanors or felonies. A misdemeanor is a crime that is punishable by jail time of up to one year. A felony is a more serious crime, which is punishable by prison time of more than one year. More... |
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| English Common Law |
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| e American judicial system has its origin in English common law. English common law is made up of two distinct court systems--courts of law (which can award money damages) and courts of equity (also called courts of chancery, which have the power to grant equitable remedies). More... |
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| Traffic Law Enforcement with Electronics |
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| Electronic traffic law enforcement involves the use of technology to enforce traffic laws. Police officers have been using conventional radar guns for years to detect speeding drivers. More recently, laser speed guns have been developed that more accurately clock the speed of moving vehicles. Red light cameras detect vehicles that run red lights at intersections. More... |
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