JUDICIAL BRANCH

1
JUDICIAL BRANCH CHARACTERISTICS OF COURTS
2
Key Terms

• 1. writ of certiorari document sent to lower
  court by Supreme Court ordering transcript of a
  case
• 2. magistrate court official who may set bail
  or deliver court orders
• 3. adversary system the two opposing sides of a
  court case. Ex plaintiff v. defendant (civil)
  prosecution v. defense (criminal)
• 4. majority opinion essay explaining the
  reasoning behind the WINNING side of a case
• 5. dissenting opinion essay explaining the
  reasoning behind the LOSING side of a case
• 6. concurring opinion additional essay written
  to AGREE with the winning side of a case

3
I. US District Court

• A. have original jurisdiction only
• B. every state has at least one (94 total)
• C. only level of court with jury trial
• D. only court containing a magistrate

4
II. US Appeals Court

• A. 12 total appellate courts 1 per circuit
• B. Have appellate jurisdiction only
• C. NO JURY panel of 3 judges hears case
• D. About 6 to 27 judges live in a circuit
• E. Receives cases from District level
• F. Est. by Congress to lighten Supreme Court load

5
III. Supreme Court

• A. highest court decisions are final
• B. 9 justices (one is a chief justice)
• C. Appealed cases come from US Appeals court or
  State supreme court
• D. Has both appellate and original jurisdiction
  (rare)
• E. Hears cases of constitutional importance
• F. 4 judges must agree to hear case

6
IV. Facts about courts

• A. all lower federal courts established by
  Congress
• B. federal judges appointed by Pres.
• C. state judges are ELECTED