Amicus curiae is a Latin term meaning a "friend of the court." An amicus curiae is not a party to the lawsuit but is a person or group that has a strong interest in the matter being litigated. The function of an amicus curiae is to bring to the court's attention law, facts, or circumstances in the pending lawsuit that might not otherwise be discussed by the parties to the lawsuit. An amicus curiae's intent is to influence the court's decision.
One of the cornerstones of our American judicial system is the impartial administration of justice. It is crucial that a judge act fairly and impartially, avoiding any appearance of impropriety. Every state has adopted a code of judicial conduct that sets ethical guidelines for judges. All states also have judicial conduct commissions with the power to investigate, prosecute, and decide cases of judicial misconduct. There is also a code of conduct for federal judges.
A lawsuit begins when a plaintiff (the party suing) files a complaint with the clerk of courts. The defendant (the person or company being sued) is given notice that a lawsuit has been filed and is "summoned" to appear before the court. Service of process means that the defendant is given notice of the lawsuit and a copy of the complaint that was filed.
A driver's primary responsibility is to safely operate the vehicle. Impaired driving occurs when a driver is distracted and his/her ability to perform the task of driving is reduced. Driving can be impaired by drug use, alcohol use, fatigue, and cell phone use, along with anything else that distracts the driver. This article discusses impaired driving because of drug and alcohol use. Road rage is also covered in the article.
In 1922, the United States Congress created a body called the Conference of Senior Circuit Judges to administer the federal judiciary. In 1948, Congress passed additional legislation and changed the name of the governing body to the Judicial Conference of the United States. The Judicial Conference handles the administrative matters of the federal court system.
