cj 297: criminal law mount mercy university constitutions statutory law administrative law case...
TRANSCRIPT
1. INTRODUCTION TO CRIMINAL LAW
2. Sources of criminal lawCJ 297: Criminal Law Mount Mercy University
Four sources of criminal lawConstitutionsStatutory LawAdministrative LawCase Law
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1. constitutionsU.S. ConstitutionBasic legal principles/foundationCriminal laws cannot violate
State ConstitutionsMirror U.S. ConstitutionCannot contradict U.S. ConstitutionCan grant greater individual rights3
2. Statutory lawWritten
Compiled in CodesU.S. CodeState CodesLocal Codes
Statute must be violated4
3. Administrative lawLegislature delegates authoritySpecializationExamples
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4. Case LawWritten decisions of judges (appeals)Hierarchy & stare decisisInterpret lawsEnsure statutes dont violate constitutions6
federalismTwo-tiered system of governmentNational (federal)States7
federalismWhy is it important to criminal law?Criminal law left to StatesA few national exceptionsCrimes at sea, on waterwaysCrimes on federal propertyCrimes that cross state boundaries8
federalismFederal Court Structure9Federal CourtsU.S. Supreme CourtAppeals CourtDistrict Court/Trial levelState CourtsState Supreme CourtsAppeals CourtDistrict Court/Trial level
Trials v. appealsGrounds for AppealLegal Error
Appeals make Case Law10
Case law examplesHierarchyStare decisisException: Overrule
Plessy v. Ferguson (1896): separate but equalBrown v. Board of Education (1954)
Bowers v. Hardwick (1986): sodomy v. privacyLawrence & Garner v. Texas (2003)11