State and Local Government
Session 11: Civil and Juvenile Cases

Materials

• Textbook
• Vocabulary List (Attachment I)

Instructional Activities

1. Lecture and give notes on civil and juvenile procedures.
   •    Procedure for civil cases
   –    When people or businesses feel they have suffered at the hands of another, they file complaints to recover damages or receive compensation. The filer is known as the plaintiff.
   –    The civil case is tried in a state court (Circuit or General District, depending on the dollar amount of the damages the plaintiff claims.)
   –    A case can be heard by a judge — with or without a jury.
   –    Once a decision has been reached, a case can be appealed to the Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court.
   
   •    Proceedings for juveniles
   –    Judges have greater latitude in handling juvenile cases than they have in cases involving adults. This allows judges to take into account the age of the person committing the crime and any other extenuating circumstances.
   –    Juveniles who commit serious crimes can be tried as adults.

2. Distribute a vocabulary list (Attachment I) for the Virginia Court System. Explain that there have been many technical terms used in their study of the Virginia courts. Ask students to use their notes to define each term in their own words and draw pictures of its meaning.
   
   
3. Ask students to form pairs and share their definitions and pictures for each term.