How does a court case work?

A court case works by having an original case being filed by an individual or a group of individuals. The party that files the original case is known as the plaintiff, while the opposing party is known as the defendant. The defendant is then served a notice of a court date and is asked to appear in court. At the court hearing, both parties present their side of the case, while a judge and/or a jury hears the evidence. The plaintiff has the burden of proving their case, including the facts and the law that is relevant to the case. The defendant then has the opportunity to present evidence and present their arguments. After both sides present their information, the judge or jury will then make a decision based on the evidence. In Washington, the decision is made in the form of a verdict that finds the defendant either guilty or not guilty. If the defendant is found guilty, the judge will then determine the sentence or order the payment of a fine. In Washington, both parties have the right to appeal the decision of the court. This is done by filing an appeal with the court, and the case will then be heard at a higher court. The appeals process is done in order to ensure that the legal system is being applied correctly and that any mistakes can be corrected.

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