The Environmental Law Group, PLLC - Untitled 1

A Court's Authority to Resolve Disputes

The framers of the United States Constitution separated the functions of government among three separate branches of government--legislative (the Congress), executive (the President), and the judiciary (the courts). The goal was to...

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...

The Court's Management of High-Profile Cases

Courts are sometimes faced with managing high-profile or notorious cases. A media frenzy surrounding such trials can make it a challenge to provide a fair trial, which is a right guaranteed by the Constitution.

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Criminal Cases

A criminal case begins when the prosecutor files criminal charges against a person, a person is arrested, or the grand jury returns an indictment against a person. Criminal offenses are either misdemeanors or felonies. A misdemeanor is a crime...

Service of Process -- Notice of a Lawsuit

A lawsuit begins when a plaintiff (the party suing) files a complaint with the clerk of the court. The defendant (the person or company being sued) is given notice that a lawsuit has been filed and is "summoned" to appear before the court....