Intro to Law

Law- A written rule that tells members of society how they are expected to behave. 3 things courts do 1)Interpret laws 2) Settle Disputes 3) Try those accused of crimes

To be effective, laws must be fair and treat all people equally Good Laws are: Reasonable Understandable Enforceable Early Laws 1) Code of Hammurabi 1 st known system of written law (1760 B.C.) (very harsh) 282 laws regulating everyday behavior

2) Ten Commandments included moral rules of how people should behave toward one another

3) Roman Law The Romans made a science of law called Jurisprudence Roman senate adopted many laws and Roman judges wrote commentaries on them. Later, Roman Emperors created laws by issuing edicts (commands) Emperor Justinian I created the Justinian Code ( Law of the Byzantine Empire) Roman law became part of Canon Law (Laws of the Roman Catholic Church)

1200 years later- French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte updated the Justinian code and called it Napoleonic Code Much of the world lives under some form of Roman law as interpreted by the Napoleonic Code. Louisiana’s system of laws is based on the Napoleonic Code.

4) English Law **** The most important source of American laws **** Greatest contribution is English system of Common Law (judges base rulings on precedent) Blending of Roman law and canon law into a body of common law Eventually, Parliament passed written laws called statutes which dominated the English legal system. The traditions of common law and citizens’ rights were brought by the English colonists. Following precedents still survives in the interpretation of statutes by courts.

Kinds of Laws Passed by a federal, state, or local legislature and then written down. “On the books” Law based on the Constitution and any Supreme Court interpretation. (“Judge-made” law) Rulings made by the court are used to decide current cases. Based on precedent. Treaties, customs, and agreements among nations. Disputes becan heard in the World Court in The Hague, the Netherlands. (But it has no enforcement powers) 1) Statutory- 2) Constitutional- 3) Common- 4) International-

5) Administrative- Rules and regulations of gov. agencies

2 Main Categories of law 1) Civil Disputes between people over money or property No criminal laws have been broken Lawsuit: A legal action in which a person or group sues to collect damages for some harm that is done. Why a lawsuit? Dispute over a contract Torts (civil wrongs)- a person suffers injury and claims another party is responsible because of negligence Family Law- divorces, child custody/support, adoption, etc

Civil Case Plaintiff- Person making the complaint Defendant- Party being sued

2) Criminal Case The government charges someone with a crime Prosecution- Government as the accuser (District Attorney-DA) Defendant- Person accused of a crime District Attorney Dewey Hudson Home Page