Court History

Court History

  • Submitted By: walton35
  • Date Submitted: 11/14/2013 6:46 AM
  • Category: English
  • Words: 798
  • Page: 4
  • Views: 80

Court History and Purpose Paper
Damon G Walton
CJA/224
7-01-2013
Nolson Philippe

Court History and Purpose Paper
Court History and Purpose Paper
The U.S. court system is an integral to our justice system which provides a legal framework to mete out justice. Courts is defined by the book as, “An agency or unit of the judicial branch of government, authorized or established by statute or constitution, and consisting of one or more judicial officers, which has authority to decide upon cases, controversies in law, and disputed matters of fact brought before it.” (Siegel, Schmalleger, & Worral, 2011). The purpose or the function of the courts can be narrowed down to four important things: 1. Courts are to uphold the law; 2. Protect individuals; 3.Resolve disputes; 4. reinforcing the social norms. Even though our court system is similar to the British system some of its aspects were borrowed from it is unique in the fact that it enshrines a basic tenet of being innocent until proven guilty. It allows for a person to have their “day in court’ and to face their accuser.
However in the United States we have what is referred to as a dual court system. A dual court system can be defined as a judicial system comprising federal- and state- level judicial systems. A dual court system separates federal and state courts. According to the book a dual court system is advantageous and desirable because it is parallel to federalism. Federalism is a system of government where power is constitutionally divided between central governing body and various constituent units. In the United States, the federal government makes laws, but federalism also gives the states power to make their own laws(Siegel, Schmalleger, & Worral, 2011). The Founding fathers saw it as a way to serve as check on an abusive or tyrannical government.
Early legal codes also known as the Code of Hammurabi is known as the earliest example of formal written codes. The Early Codes were very harsh...

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