In civil litigation, the relationship between lawyer and client is often (but not always)
characterized by trust and full disclosure. In criminal cases, however, the relationship is
more likely to be marked by distrust and hostility.
With regard to juvenile proceedings, juveniles have the right against self-incrimination.
In most states with the death penalty, if the judge imposes capital punishment, then the
case is automatically appealed to the state’s highest court, thus bypassing the
intermediate courts of appeals.
Compared to their counterparts in England and in other European countries, American
prosecutors enjoy unmatched independence and discretionary powers.