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Amicus Curiae

Amicus curiae is a Latin term meaning "friend of the court." An amicus curiae is not a party to the lawsuit but is a person or group that has a strong interest in the matter being litigated. The function of an amicus curiae is to bring to the...

Juvenile Courts

A juvenile court is a specialized civil court dealing with children under the age of 18 who are abused, neglected, dependent, delinquent, or status offenders. Some juvenile courts also have the power to require treatment for mentally ill or...

Judicial Precedent

Doctrine of stare decisis

The doctrine of stare decisis (which means "stand by what has been decided") is the legal principle underlying judicial precedent. When a court lays down a principle of law as applying to a...

Probate Courts

A probate court is a specialized court that handles the probate or proving of wills, administers the estate (property) of a deceased person, appoints guardians for minors and incapacitated adults, and orders the involuntary hospitalization of...

Is Judicial Independence in Jeopardy?

Our governmental system contains checks and balances, which are designed to prevent any branch of government--executive, legislative, or judicial--from becoming too powerful. The independence of the judiciary is one of the central principles of...