Court Proceedings Overview Quiz

Court Proceedings Overview

• Court proceedings are a legal process where cases are publicly heard and decided.
• Evidence, testimonies, and documents are presented to determine guilt or innocence.

Stages of Court Proceedings

• Arraignment and Plea (C-R-A):

  • Formal reading of accusations against the accused.
  • Accused is given a copy of the charges and asked to plead guilty or not guilty.
  • Must be in open court.
  • Accused must be present and plead personally.

• Pre-Trial (P-S-M-W-M-M):

  • Held within 30 days of arraignment.
  • Plea bargaining, stipulation of facts, evidence identification, and objections to admissibility are discussed.
  • Modification of the trial order occurs if changes are needed.
  • Agreed-upon matters are discussed and confirmed.
  • Accused has 15 days to prepare for trial.

• Trial (P-D):

  • Held within 30 days of the pre-trial.
  • Both prosecution and defense present their evidence.
  • Direct, cross, redirect, and recross examinations take place.
  • The accused has 15 days to prepare for the trial.

• Judgment (T):

  • Decision by the court determining guilt or innocence.
  • Penalty and civil liability are imposed, if applicable.
  • The verdict is written in official language and signed by the judge.
  • It clearly states the facts and the law upon which the decision is based.

• Convictions and Acquittal

  • Conviction: Specifies the offense, aggravating/mitigating circumstances, the accused's participation, penalty, and civil liability.
  • Acquittal: Indicates that the evidence presented did not sufficiently prove guilt.

• Appeal:

  • Review of court decisions by higher courts.
  • Cases decided by the Court of Appeals (CA) can appeal to the Supreme Court (SC), and Regional Trial Courts (RTC) can appeal to the CA.

• When are judgments final?

  • If the accused waives the right to appeal.
  • If the accused applies for probation.
  • After the lapse of 15 days following the decision is handed down.

• New Trial/Motion for Reconsideration (MFR):

  • New trial requested based on errors of law, irregularities impacting the accused's rights, new evidence discovered, or new proceedings.
  • MFR requested based on errors of law or irregularities in the judgement, and there is no need for another proceeding.
  • Specific number of days for appealing a judgement can be suspended.

Test your knowledge about the stages of court proceedings including arraignment, pre-trial, and trial. This quiz covers key concepts and legal terminology related to the judicial process. Challenge yourself and learn more about how cases are handled in court.