Court is an institution (often a government entity) with the legal authority to adjudicate cases involving civil, criminal or administrative matters in accordance with the rule of law. Courts are generally established and dissolved by legislation enacted by a legislature or an equivalent constituting instrument, but their practical authority is based on the rule of law, known as jurisdicitio. There are many kinds of courts, such as trial courts, appellate courts, administrative courts and international courts.
A court may have special rules, like drug courts, that it follows when hearing cases about non-violent drug offenders. Another important characteristic of a court is its legitimacy, meaning that people accept it as being legitimate. This is a result of the belief that it is impartial and makes decisions that are grounded in law, not politics or self-interest.
ancillary proceeding: A case that grows out of another one and is filed to help with that original case. Examples are an affidavit of service, an admonition to pay or a request for a court to find out the father of a child.
case conferencing: Meeting with a Judge or the judge’s court attorney to try to settle a case before it goes to trial.
court clerk: A person that collects court papers and files them in the right place. They also keep a record of all the proceedings and make copies for everyone involved.
forensic science: A type of scientific examination used in a criminal case, such as a blood test or an eyewitness testimony.