The federal Court System
Jobs of the Court
1.Civil Disputes -Court settle
disputes (arguments)
• The court uses the law to make a decision
• Cases deal with Money or taking away
rights
– Example-Roommate did not pay rent you
want $$$
2.Criminal cases- cases people
are accused of breaking the law
• Lawyers show evidence and Jury makes
decision
• Example- Stealing, Murder…
3.Accused people right to trial,
lawyer
• Can’t afford a lawyer court will give them
one
• Goal of courts is Equality under law
Federal Court system Article III
of the Constitution
• Supreme Court highest court
• congress make lower courts
Three levels of Courts
• 1.Lower district court- trial
first
• 2.appeals court middle- fight
guilty decision I lower court
• 3. Supreme Court
• States have own courts
Jurisdiction- which court
has power over the case
1.law broken applies to US
Constitution > Fed Court
• example- A person is not
allowed to speak at a rally
sues for taking freedom of
speech.
2 Cases involving Fed laws>
Fed court
• example- Somebody printing
Fake money
3 Disagreement between state
governments>Fed Court
• example- Nevada sues
California
4 Lawsuits citizens of different
states > Fed Court
• example- person from Texas
sues a person from California
over fake EBAY purchase
5 Someone sues US gov or US
gov sues someone > Fed Court
• example- Gov sued a company
because they didn’t build jets
the gov payed for.
6 Foreign governments between
Us citizen or US government
• example- A broken treaty
7 Accidents or crimes on oceans> Fed Court
• example- Murder by an American on an
American cruise line
8 Cases involving US diplomat> Fed Court
• example- worker at the Mexican embassy
is charged with murder.
2 Types of Jurisdiction
• Exclusive- one court has power over case
• Concurrent Jurisdiction- State and Fed
Courts share power and control
The Organization
of Federal Courts
• There are three levels of Federal Courts
I. US District
Courts (lowest
level of courts)
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-District courts are where trial (criminal) and
Lawsuits (civil) start
-Each state has minimum 1 district court
-District courts have original jurisdiction (hear
the case first time)
-Hear both civil and Criminal cases
-Only court that involve witnesses &
juries
II. US Courts of Appeals
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-Lose in district court appeal next level
• (Once proven innocent there is no appeal)
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-Appeals court- jurisdiction to review
decision of lower court
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-There are 12 US courts of Appeals
covers an area on US map (circuits)
Trial Judges review cases and listen to
lawyers do not decide guilt or innocence
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-Decide if original trial was fair and
protected rights
-Uphold original decision
-Reverse the original decision
-Remand the case- send it back to
a lower court
-Most cases end at appeals court some
make it to the Supreme Court
III Supreme Court Cover later
Federal Judges
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-Each district has minimum 2 judges
-Each Appeals court has 6-27 judges
-Supreme Court has 9 Justices
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President appoints judgessenate approves them
-Judges serve for Life
-Judges can be impeached and
removed
Job of Judge
• -Hear preliminary evidence
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-Determine whether case goes to trial
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-Decides if accused jailed or released on
bail
US Attorneys- government lawyer prosecutes
people accused
-Defend the government when they are being
sued
US Marshals-(US Police)
• -Collect evidence/ arrest people/ take the
convicted to prison/ protect witnesses
THE US SUPREME
COURT
I. The Supreme Court Justices
• -Main job us Sup Court decide whether laws are
Constitutional -allowed by constitution
• Cases arrive to Supreme Court from appeal Court
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-Cases involving State & Foreign
Diplomats straight to Sup Crt
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-Sup Crt chooses what cases to listen too
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-Decision of Crt is Final
The justices
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-There are 8 justices and 1 Chief Justice
-Give a written explanation of all
decision
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-Each judge gets 1 vote of decision
• -President chooses Justice, senate approves
• -To be chosen-Lawyer, Great career, agree
ideas of President
II Powers of the Court
• -Legislative (congress ) and Executive
(president ) branches must follow court
decision
• -Court has Judicial Review-Power to say if
law or Gov actions are constitutional
3 principals of Judicial
Review
• 1.constitution supreme Law
• 2.IF law goes against Constitution,
constitution wins
• 3.Judicial Branch duty support
Constitution
Judicial review controls power of
Executive and Legislative Branch
(Example Prop 187 passed in CA
1994)
• -Law Stated NO illegal immigrant can getEducation or Healthcare by gov
• -Supreme court said law was
unconstitutional-Gov can not deny
education or healthcare to anybody
III Limits on the Courts Power
• Supreme court cannot enforce laws
• Executive Branch, States, Local Gov enforce laws
with- military, state police, city police
• Congress can make new laws that change
constitution
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-Congress can vote to impeach a Justice
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-Laws must be challenged in lower District
courts before Supreme Court can decide it’s
unconstitutional.
Deciding Cases at the Supreme
Court
• I. How Cases Reach the Court.
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-Court runs from October – July
• -Each month’s justices listen cases for 2
weeks& 2 weeks writing opinions
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-Supreme courts gets cases from
Appeals court
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-7000 cases apply to be heard by
Supreme Court per year
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-Justices agree to hear less than 200
- 4 of nine justices must agree to
hear cases
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-Choose cases involving
constitutional issues
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-All accepted cases are put on
docket- calendar
II. Steps in Decision Making
The 5 steps
• 1. Lawyer make written explanation of
their side-Brief
• 2. Each sides lawyers gets 30 minutes to
talk about their case
• 3.Court makes a decision (1 vote per
justice) One justice writes a majority
opinion- why they made the decision
4. Those who disagree with majority- write
dissenting opinion- why they disagree with
other justices
5. Court announces the decision- gives
copies to news, post on website
IF ALL JUSTICES AGREE-UNANIMOUSE
DECISION
III. Reasons for court Decision
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1. Law is most important influence on decision
2. Justices consider what Constitution says
a. Look back at older decision
3. Laws must be flexible to change with times
1800’s segregation based on color was legaltoday that is illegal.