What Is a Court?

A court is an institution that the government sets up to settle disputes through legal action. It is the place where people come to resolve their disagreements.

Did Bill Jones run a red light before his car ran into John Smith's, or was the light green, as he says it was? Did Frank Williams rob the bank? Courts decide what happened and what to do about it. They decide whether a person committed a crime and the corresponding punishment. They also provide a peaceful way to decide private disputes that people cannot resolve among themselves.

What Does It Mean to Be in an Adversarial System?

Courts use the adversary process to help them decide cases. Through this process, each side presents its most persuasive arguments to the "fact finder," either a judge or a jury, emphasizing the facts that support its case. Each side also draws attention to any flaws in its opponent's arguments. This may include questioning witnesses, presenting evidence, and making legal arguments to support their party's position. The fact finder decides the case based on the arguments and evidence presented.

In this court system, the judge acts as an impartial arbiter and makes a final decision. American judicial tradition holds that this adversary process will most effectively reach the truth. This court proceeding relies on the facts and legal points presented by both parties relevant to the case. The plaintiff often bears the burden of proving the claim. Then, the defendant challenges their claim.

What Does Litigation Mean?

Litigation is the legal process of resolving disputes. In the litigation process, the parties take the issues to court and enforce and defend their legal rights. The process often includes the parties filing pleadings, engaging in discovery, presenting the case in the trial court, and appealing the decision to the higher courts if necessary. Litigation can happen in different contexts, including civil cases and criminal cases.

What Is the Difference Between Civil and Criminal Court?

There are crucial differences between civil and criminal courts. Each court handles different cases with distinct purposes, procedures, and outcomes. There may be a jury trial in either court.

The purpose of civil court is to handle legal disputes between persons, organizations, companies, or both. Here, one party claims that the opposing party caused them harm because of the opposing party's act or omission. Civil lawsuits aim to determine their liability and award damages or relief. In a civil case, the plaintiff seeks specific performance, monetary compensation, or injunction against the defendant. Some examples of civil cases are matters related to family law, real estate, torts, probate of wills, personal injury, and medical malpractice.

The standard of proof in civil cases is lower than that of a criminal case. It often only asks for the preponderance of the evidence. But criminal courts demand that the prosecution prove the defendant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

Meanwhile, criminal courts address criminal law violations, which are offenses against the state or society as a whole. Criminal courts aim to punish the person found guilty of the crime. The punishment may include a fine, imprisonment, or both. Some examples of criminal cases are assault and battery, murder, robbery, drug offenses, theft, driving under the influence, and domestic violence cases.

Impact of Court Decisions

The impact of court decisions goes far beyond the courtroom. They also influence state laws and could affect countless lives, even those not directly involved in the case. These court rulings set legal precedents that affect the legal system and often provoke social change.

For example, the Supreme Court's decision in the 1954 case Brown v. Board of Education that it was unconstitutional to require white and Black children to attend separate schools. The court case meant not only that plaintiff Linda Brown could enroll in a formerly all-white school but that other African-American children could, too. This landmark case overturned the earlier doctrine established by Plessy v. Ferguson in 1896 that upheld racial segregation in the country. But, implementing the court order in Brown did not happen overnight. There was resistance in some states, and the decision required federal intervention.

Court decisions tell those involved in the case their rights. They also speak to others facing similar situations and explain how the courts would consider their case. For instance, the 1973 decision in the court case of Roe v. Wade. Here, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the constitutionally protected right of women to abortion before the viability of the fetus. The decision influenced several state laws and later actions to enforce the right to abortion.

But, the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in June 2022. The Court agreed with the abortion ban in the state of Mississippi, undoing a decades-long legal precedent legalizing abortion. The case came to the Court after Mississippi passed a law in 2018 banning abortions after 15 weeks. The law made exceptions in cases of medical emergencies or severe fetal abnormality.

After upholding the abortion ban, around half of the states in the country began to pass laws to ban abortion procedures.

Get Expert Legal Advice

As court decisions shape our society, keeping yourself updated on the ever-changing legal landscape is essential. If you are facing civil litigation, seeking legal advice from a litigation and appeals attorney helps. They can provide the guidance that you need on how to proceed with your case. They keep updated on current court orders and legislation relevant to your case. Remember that you do not have to face these legal challenges alone. You can secure the help of a legal professional near you and navigate the complexities of the judicial system.