United States Court System

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United States Court System
U.S Supreme Court (9 Justices)
U.S. Court of Appeals
U.S. District Court
Federal Crime is Committed
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Federal Courts

• District Courts
• Courts where a federal case begins.
• There are 94 District Courts
• Each state has at least one district, many states
  have more.
• District Courts have original jurisdiction, they
  hear cases for the first time.

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Federal Courts

• Court of Appeals
• Also known as Federal Appeals courts, circuit
  courts (of appeals), or appellate courts.
• Review decisions made by lower (District) courts.
  
• Have appellate jurisdiction, or may hear and
  possibly change a District Courts decision.

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Federal Courts

• Supreme Court
• Hears both original cases as well as appeals
• Original jurisdiction includes cases with other
  countries and with states
• Hears appeals cases from appellate courts
• Last line of appeals for a case

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Jurisdiction

• Exclusive Jurisdiction
• Cases that involve the Constitution automatically
  go to the Supreme Court.
• Trials are operated based on guidelines set up in
  the Constitution, specifically the Bill of
  Rights.

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Jurisdiction

• Original Jurisdiction
• The authority to hear a case for the first time
• If you go to court, you will be assigned to a
  court with original jurisdiction.

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Jurisdiction

• Appellate Jurisdiction
• The authority to hear a case after there has been
  a decision already made by a lower court.
• Appellate courts can uphold, reverse, or remand a
  decision.

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Jurisdiction

• Limited Original Jurisdiction
• Applies to the Supreme Court
• Original jurisdiction, but only for cases that
  involve other countries, cases against or between
  the states, or direct interpretation of the
  Constitution.

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Judicial Appointment

• The Constitution states that the President will
  appoint federal judges.
• The nominees must be approved by a Senate
  hearing, or a trial held by a small group of
  Senators.
• Once approved by the Senate, federal judges hold
  their jobs for life, unless impeached.

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Jury/No Jury

• District Courts
• Jury, The first time a case is heard (outside of
  the Supreme Court) it is ruled on by a jury of
  your peers.
• Appellate Courts and Supreme Court
• These courts are ruled on by a judge or a panel
  of judges/justices.

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• Types of Cases

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Cases

• All defendants are assumed innocent until proven
  guilty.
• Writ of Habeas Corpus
• You have the body, or show the body
• Means to request to go personally to the courts
  to determine if a prisoner is being held legally.
  (Link)

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Cases

• Civil Suit
• Non-criminal case that usually involves personal
  property
• Ruling usually deals with returning property
  and/or money settlements

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Cases

• Criminal Case
• Lawsuit that involves someone committing is being
  charged with a crime
• Usually brought to court by a prosecutor
• Ruling can involve jail, fines, restrictions,
  probations, or other various punishments

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State v. Federal Courts

• Any case that is not designated a Federal offense
  is heard in a state court. Most cases fall into
  this category.
• If a case can be heard in either court, the
  courts have Concurrent Jurisdiction.
• - Example If two people from different states
  are in a money dispute that totals more the
  50,000.

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State v. Federal Courts

• Federal Cases
• Constitution
• State v. State or occupants of
• Foreign/International matters
• Involving Federal Govt

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How are Decisions Made?

• 1. Law
• - Courts interpret federal laws/Constitution to
  determine legality.
• - Laws are written very generally so judges must
  determine what the law means, what the writers
  intent was, and how it should be interpreted in
  todays society.

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How are Decisions Made?

• 2. Precedent/Star? Decisis
• - Let the decision stand
• - Judges may use the decision from past similar
  cases to make a decision on the current case.

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How are Decisions Made?

• Opinions (Link to Case Opinion)
• - an opinion (opine) is a professional detailed
  explanation of the decision of the case.
• - Types of opinions Majority, Concurring,
  Dissenting.

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Test Study Guide

• Know levels of courts and types of jurisdiction
• Understand the appointments process
• Be able to identify courts with jury or judge
• Be able to explain civil suits and criminal cases
• Understand state and federal crimes/jurisdiction
• Know what tools judges use for ruling on cases
  and how the courts publish those rulings
• Use the info from these notes for WYMC

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• The End