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Simple English definitions for legal terms
Court Appointed Special Advocates
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A quick definition of Court Appointed Special Advocates:
Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) is a program that helps children who have been abused or neglected. Trained volunteers act as advocates for these children in court cases. The program started in Seattle in 1977 and is now supported by the government. CASA volunteers are allowed to speak up for the children they represent in court.
Court Baron is an old court that used to deal with small disputes between people who lived on a manor. There were two types of court baron: one for freeholders and one for copyholders. Freeholders were people who owned their land, while copyholders rented their land from the lord of the manor. The court baron was run by the lord or his steward, who acted as a judge. The court had the power to settle disputes over amounts of money that were 40 shillings or less.
A more thorough explanation:
Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) is a program that helps children in abuse and neglect cases. The program started in Seattle, Washington in 1977 and is now funded by the federal government. CASA volunteers are trained laypersons who act on behalf of children in court. They are sanctioned by the American Bar Association as permissible guardians ad litem.
For example, if a child is in a situation where they are being abused or neglected, a CASA volunteer can be appointed by the court to represent the child's best interests. The volunteer will investigate the situation, talk to the child and others involved, and make recommendations to the court about what is in the child's best interest.
Court Baron is a manorial court that has jurisdiction over amounts in controversy of 40 shillings or less. It was used in England in the past and had two types of courts: the customary court baron for disputes involving copyholders, and the court baron proper (also known as the freeholders' court baron), in which freeholders were allowed to hold court concerning minor disputes.
For example, if a freeholder had a dispute with another freeholder over a small amount of money, they could bring the case to the court baron. The lord of the manor would preside over the court and make a decision about the case.