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Court History and Purpose Paper

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Submitted By mzriri
Words 660
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Court History and Purpose Paper
Nerissa N. Lee
CJA/224
Nov. 29, 2012
Ashley Kintzer

Court History and Purpose Paper
The Court is where disputes are settled, law is born, and where individuals accused of criminal crimes go. Courts are simply the civilized way to handle issue in a legal, organized civilized manner. It is a critical component of American justice system. Courts is defined by the book as, “An agency or unit of the judicial branch of government, authorized or established by statute or constitution, and consisting of one or more judicial officers, which has authority to decide upon cases, controversies in law, and disputed matters of fact brought before it.” (Siegel, Schmalleger, & Worral, 2011). The purpose or the function of the courts can be narrowed down to four important things: 1. Courts are to uphold the law; 2. Protect individuals; 3.Resolve disputes; 4. reinforcing the social norms.
However in the United States we have what is referred to as a dual court system. A dual court system can be defined as a judicial system comprising federal- and state- level judicial systems. A dual court system separates federal and state courts. According to the book a dual court system is advantageous and desirable because it is parallel to federalism. Federalism is a system of government where power is constitutionally divided between central governing body and various constituent units. In the United States, the federal government makes laws, but federalism also gives the states power to make their own laws(Siegel, Schmalleger, & Worral, 2011).
Early legal codes also known as the Code of Hammurabi is known as the earliest example of formal written codes. The Early Codes were very harsh and stated basically, “eye for an eye”. Another formally codified legal principle is known as the Twelve Tables. The Twelve Tables were of Roman law, it was the

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