Section Outline

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Civil JusticeSection 1: The Role of Civil Law

I. Principles of Civil Law

II. Some Types of Civil Cases

Color Transparency: Civil Cases in U.S. District Courts, 1990–2004

Section Reading Support Transparency

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Civil JusticeSection 1: The Role of Civil Law

Main Idea

The purpose of civil law is solve disputes

between people or organizations. There are

many different types of civil cases, including

personal injury, property, domestic relations,

probate, and housing cases.

Key Terms

•Lawsuits

•Compensation

•Damages

•Equity

•Injunction

•Contracts

Principles of Civil Law

•Lawsuits— Cases in which a court is asked to settle a dispute

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Civil JusticeSection 1: The Role of Civil Law

•Compensation— A person’s right to be “made whole” for harm caused by another person’s acts.

•Equity— The use of general rules of fairness to settle conflicts.

•Injunction— An order to do or not do a certain act

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Civil JusticeSection 1: The Role of Civil Law

Some Types of Civil Cases

•Property Cases

•Consumer Cases

•Housing Cases

•Domestic Relations Cases–Divorce, child custody

•Probate Cases–Cases that determine how to divide the property of a deceased relative or friend.

Civil Justice: Section 1Color Transparency: Civil Cases in U.S. District Courts, 1990-2004

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Civil Justice: Section 1Color Transparency: Civil Cases in U.S. District Courts, 1990-2004

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1. According to the table, are more civil cases decided by judges or juries?

In every year on the table, there were more decisions made by judges than by juries.

2. What has been the trend in the number of cases decided by a judge without a jury?

The trend shows that the number of nonjury trials has been going down.

Civil Justice: Section 1Section Reading Support Transparency

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