CJ 210 Chapter Notes - Chapter 8: Magnetic Storage, Jury Trial, Eyewitness Testimony
Document Summary
Judge: an elected or appointed public official who presides over a court of law and who is authorized to hear and sometimes to decide cases and to conduct trials. Prosecutor: an attorney whose official duty is to conduct criminal proceedings on behalf of the state or the people against those accused of having committed criminal offenses. Prosecutorial discretion: the decision making power of prosecutors, based on the wide range of choices available to them, in the handling of criminal defendants, the scheduling of cases for trial, the acceptance of negotiated pleas, and so on. Unlike lay witnesses, expert witnesses may express opinions or draw conclusions in their testimony: lay witness: an eyewitness, character witness, or other person called on the testify who is not considered an expert. Lay witnesses must testify to facts only and may not draw conclusions or express opinions.