Final Review Flashcards
(159 cards)
Stare Decisis - What is the Latin meaning?
Shortened latin term meaning “to stand by precedents and not disturb settled points”
Binding Precedent - What are the 3 considerations?
Precedent is mandatory if you determine these considerations:
1-whether the earlier case arose out of the same jurisdiction; and
2-whether the earlier case arose out of a higher court; and/or
3-whether the case is factually similar and whether it applies the same law (Lawyer’s “bread & Butter”).
Persuasive or Non-Binding Precedent - What does it refer to?
Refers to a case the court may follow or consider, but is not required to follow.
Usually considered if the issue of law was not previously litigated in the particular jurisdiction, so the court will look to other cases for guidance.
What does “Vertical System” refer to?
State courts must follow precedents form higher courts in the same jurisdiction.
Federal courts bound by higher courts in the same jurisdiction but they are separate systems.
Common Law - What is the definition / what are the primary sources?
Judicial decisions from judges.
Enacted Law - What is the definition / what are the primary sources?
Statutes, constitutions, administrative regulations.
Relationship of Primary Authority - What are four concepts from highest to lowest?
Constitutions
Statutes
Case Law
Administrative Decisions
Relationship of Primary Authority - What can “Constitutions” put constraints on?
May place constraints on state statutes and case opinions that are contradictory.
Relationship of Primary Authority - What can “Statutes” put constraints on?
May constrain case law and administrative regulations or rulings;
But a court may still interpret meaning of a statute or constitutional provision to determine if it applies.
Relationship of Primary Authority - What can “Case law” put constraints on?
May constrain administrative decisions.
Holding vs. Dicta - What are they and what is the difference?
Holding: Statement in the court’s decision answering the issues before the court. A holding is limited to the court’s statements resolving the necessary question actually at issue.
Dicta: Remarks that are not essential to the holding. They can be statements about principles of law or statements about how the law may apply in hypothetical facts.
Courts bound by precedent are only bound by the holdings of prior cases, they are not bound by dicta.
*A judge may choose to follow dicta, (persuasive not binding) but is never bound to do so.
In some cases dicta may be debatable. Dictum or Holding is completely dependent on the case at hand.
Is this Dictum or Holding? - An item must be physically delivered unless physical delivery would be impracticable.
Holding
Is this Dictum or Holding? - An item locked in a safe deposit box in a bank closed for the weekend need not be physically delivered.
Dictum
Is this Dictum or Holding? - A small, light, freely accessible item must be physically delivered in order to complete a valid gift.
Holding
Is this Dictum or Holding? - To constitute a valid gift of personal property, the donor must manifest his intention to make the gift.
Dictum (This example is a true statement of law, but it’s not the issue/not in dispute.
What is the following list of components a format of?
To
From
Re
Question Presented
Brief Answer
Statement of Facts
Discussion (most important section)
Conclusion
A Memorandum (memo)
What are two ways memos are kept objective?
1 - They should not be argumentative.
2 - The facts should be neutral.
What are the three branches of the American legal system and what do they do?
Executive Branch: creates administrative law
Legislative Branch: creates statutory law
Judicial Branch: interprets law & creates common law
What are examples of Federal Primary Sources of Law:
The Constitution of the United States
Federal Statutes
Federal Administrative Regulations & Decisions
Federal Court Decisions
What are examples of State Primary Sources of Law:
State Constitutions
State Statutes
State Administrative Regulations & Decisions
State Court Decisions
What is an example of
Judge-made Primary Sources of Law:
Case Law
What is an example of
Enacted Primary Sources of Law:
Statutes
Constitutions
Administrative Regulations
Two components of Common Law
In its most basic definition - judge made law.
Follows rules that courts made in the past.
Which has the greatest precedential value?
A state statute or an opinion of that state’s highest court?
state statute