Part A -
1. What is the difference between civil cases and criminal cases?
2. What are the steps through a civil case?
3. What are the steps through a criminal case?
4. What do a prosecuting attorney and a defense attorney do in a criminal case?
5. What is the difference between a bench trial and a jury trial?
Part B -
1. Civil court cases are most often settled outside of court. Why do you think this happens? Think of what makes up a majority of civil cases before answering. Use evidence to back up your answers.
2. Jeremy, age twenty, is caught stealing credit cards from several of his friends' parents. Describe, step by step, what will happen to him during a criminal investigation and trial.
3. If Jeremy used the credit cards, he could be sued by the credit card holders in a civil case. Describe what would happen in a civil case.
4. The US Supreme Court hears a very limited number of cases every year, both civil and criminal. Why do you think they limit the number of cases? Remember, they are the final say in all matters legal-do you think this has anything to do with it? Explain your reasoning.
5. Death penalty cases are automatically able to be appealed. Why do you think this is so?