| Domestic Violence, Firearms, and the Courts |
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| Domestic violence against women is increasingly common in the United States. The United States Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Statistics, estimates that at least one million violent crimes are committed against former spouses or intimate partners each year. The vast majority of these victims are women. Prior domestic violence and the abuser's access to a firearm greatly increase the likelihood that a female intimate partner will become a homicide victim. More... |
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| Special State Courts |
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| The state court system is made up of a trial level court, a court of appeals, and a supreme court. In addition, the state court system has special courts that hear only a specific type of case. This article takes a look at some special state courts. More... |
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| Personal Jurisdiction Based on Internet Contacts |
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| To satisfy constitutional limitations, a court is permitted to exercise personal jurisdiction over a nonresident defendant only if the defendant has minimum contacts with the forum such that the maintenance of the suit does not offend traditional notions of fair play and substantial justice. The defendant's activities in the forum state must meet the standards of either general or specific jurisdiction. More... |
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| Federal Court System Overview |
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| The federal court system consists of federal trial courts and two levels of federal appellate courts--courts of appeals and the Supreme Court of the United States. More... |
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| Grand Juries |
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| A grand jury's primary function is to listen to the evidence presented by the prosecutor and decide if someone should be indicted for a crime. The Fifth Amendment of the United States Constitution provides that all federal criminal charges must be brought by a grand jury indictment. About half the states use grand juries. The grand jury also has broad power to investigate crimes. Some states permit grand juries to investigate corruption, organized crime, and the alleged misconduct of public officials. An investigative grand jury has the power to subpoena witnesses. More... |
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