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