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Courts & Litigation & Lawsuit & Lawyers : Law & Legal & Attorney
Three-Tier Organizational Structure of States' Courts
Most states organize courts into three basic levels, although the states vary in their names for these courts. The system follows a basic structure of trial court, appellate court and supreme court, with the supreme court as the highest court of law for the state. These three levels remain the same
How to Defend Against a Motion for Summary Judgment
Defending against a motion for summary judgment can fall along two fronts. In filing for summary judgment, the other side is saying to the court that there is no dispute as to any material fact and under the law he will prevail. You must therefore show that there is a difference in material fact, or
How to Look Up Public Court Records in Connecticut
Whether you need to find public records of a criminal case or family law case, the State of Connecticut makes it extremely easy to access public court documents. Matters include housing cases, small claims cases, and civil and criminal suits.
How to Subpoena Bank Accounts
A subpoena is a legal instrument that compels some type of action. A subpoena can be issued only by judges, courts, government prosecutors or parties to a civil suit. As the party to a civil suit, you do not have unlimited power to subpoena whatever and whomever you'd like. Instead, you'll have to j
Requirements for Cook County Illinois Expungement
In Cook County, it's possible to free yourself of an arrest record.handcuffs one image by Paul Moore from Fotolia.comAn arrest record can haunt a person for a long time, affecting many areas of life, from employment opportunities to the ability to rent an apartment. For those arrested in...
How Long Before a Civil Appeal Goes to Court in South Carolina?
Most people have difficulty understanding why appellate decisions take so long. In South Carolina, the appellate court says that most cases are taken under advisement within six months after the appeal is ready for consideration, and an opinion is then issued within eight weeks. In actual practice h
Booker Sentencing Guidelines
The U.S. Supreme Court case of United States v. Booker, 543 U.S. 220 (2005) dramatically shifted the way the U.S. Sentencing Commission Guidelines are perceived and utilized in criminal sentencing, holding the Guidelines to be advisory and delineating Constitutional limits on judge's authority to se
How to Reverse a Judgment
If you are unhappy about the outcome of a civil case judgment against you, it may be possible to reverse it. Reversing a judgment entails appealing to a higher court, which may or may not overrule the previous decision. On the other hand, vacating a judgment involves suspending the judgment that was
Sentencing Guidelines in Washington State
Judges in Washington State must follow guidelines when sentencing juvenile and adult offenders. The guidelines were set up to ensure that offenders committing similar crimes receive similar sentences. The guidelines were established in the Sentencing Reform Act of 1981 and have been amended since th
How to File Suit in US District Court or US Claims Court Against the IRS
Tax law is complicated, so much so that sometimes taxpayers and the IRS disagree over who's interpreting the law correctly, and going to court is the only way to resolve the issue. There are actually three courts with jurisdiction over the IRS. In addition to the federal district courts and the Cour
How to Find Information on Inmate Court Date
Finding information on an inmate's court date is easy if you know the county and state of incarceration. The information is a matter of public record, and most counties will have it online in a searchable database by name or case number for free, but upcoming case dates for famous---or infamous---pe
The Law on Motions for Reconsideration in Alabama
A motion for reconsideration, or rehearing, as it is referred to in Alabama, is a petition for the court reconsider or rehear a matter. A motion for rehearing is submitted to the appellate court with authority over the the court that issued the original decision. Motions for rehearing are regulated
How to Request a Birth Certificate From Vineland, New Jersey
You can request two types of birth certificates from the Vineland, N.J., Health Department. The first one is a certified birth certificate. It is a legal document used for official business. The subject of the birth record and relatives, guardians or legal representatives can request a certified cop
Florida Family Laws on a Motion for Summary Judgment
A Motion for Summary Judgment is simply a request that the court rule on a matter instead of going to trial. A Motion for Summary Judgment argues that there are no triable issues, such no disputes of facts that require a jury to settle. In Florida, Motions for Summary Judgment in family law cases ar
How to Obtain a Record of My Name Change
People change their names for a variety of reasons, such as marriage, religious reasons or even just to change their outlook on life with a fresh start and a new name. After wrangling the paperwork to finalize your legal name change, some individuals are unaware of the procedures that are required t
How to Prepare for a Deposition
You may be called to testify at a deposition, even if you are not involved in a lawsuit. If you are a party to a lawsuit, your lawyer should prepare you for the deposition. However, if you are representing yourself or if you are called as a witness, you will benefit from knowing what to expect and h
How to Change Venue for a Federal Court Civil Case
In a federal civil law suit, the plaintiff decides where a case is going to be heard by filing the complaint at whatever court he chooses. An individual or a company may file a claim in any jurisdiction for any reason. For example, an individual in Massachusetts may choose to sue a company in Massac
Experience Needed To Be a Supreme Court Justice
As of 2010, 64 percent of all Supreme Court justices nominated since 1789 have had prior judicial experience. Although backgrounds of justices through the years have varied, an overwhelming majority of past justices have been private lawyers. Justices have often had other experience in government, a
Reasons to Vacate a Judgment in Texas
Although the legal system strives for finality, there are provisions under Texas law that allow a judge to set aside a judgment and give the losing party a second shot at convincing a jury or judge that he should prevail. The reasons can range from newly discovered evidence to lack of notice of the
How to Add Defendants to a Judgment in California
It is very difficult to add a defendent to a rendered judgment in California. The Constitution guarantees an individual the right to proper notice and the right to be heard, as a defendant in a lawsuit. A new defendant can only be added after the judgment, as an alter ego or substitute defendant, un