The work of courts may affect a lot of people besides the ones directly involved. For example, the decision in 1954 held in US courts; to let white children and black children study in different schools affected many families living there. Similarly, the bail bonds the system by which a person pays money as prescribed, affects a lot of people. In other words, bail bond is a process that is used to obtain the release of the defendant and the complete procedure takes place in court.

A court is an institution of the government, which settles disputes through a legal procedure. People come to resolve their issues and other matters. The issues can range from divorce to a bank robbery or murderer. The jury decides what really happened and what should be done about it, based on the evidence and the detainees. They decide whether a person committed the crime and what the punishment should be. They use the adversary process to reach a decision. In this process, each defendant gives their persuasive arguments to the fact finder and emphasizes on them. The fact finder then analyzes the case and then a decision is made based on it.

Types of Courts

There are several types that you come across. Some work with the jury that makes a decision with the facts given under the order of a judge. While in the others, the decision of the facts and the laws, both are made by judges. Following are some of the different types:

• Appellate - This type of court hears the appeal of a trial court or other low tribunal court. In most cases, the court is divided into three levels: trial court, in which the court initially hears cases and reviews the testimony and evidence, immediate appellate court, and the Supreme Court. In some places, appellate court has limited powers of review. In USA, for example, appellate courts are restricted to hearing appeals based on matters from trial courts.

• Supreme - Supreme Court is the highest jurisdictional body in the court system, whose rulings cannot be further reviewed by any other court. Many countries have multiple supreme courts, with each being the court for last resort for any undecided cases. In some countries, there also exists a Supreme Administrative Court whose decisions is final and does not overlap with the Supreme Court's decision.

• Trial - It is of general jurisdiction, in which any type of civil or criminal cases are brought, and which are not committed exclusively to any other court. Evidence and testimony are admitted under the rules of evidence, which are made by the procedural law and determined on the facts found.

• Constitutional - It is a branch of the high court that deals with constitutional laws. Its aim is to decide whether the laws challenged are really unconstitutional. Some countries do not have constitutional courts but instead, work out these matters with the Supreme Court.

• Family court - A family court decides on the matters that pertain to family matters and make decisions which are in relation to family law, such as custody of children, divorce or abuse cases.

Legal Article submitted by: Connor R. Sullivan

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