courts

marbury v Madison

judicial review

judicial review

gives american courts the power to strike down laws and government actions that violate the constitution

specific requirements to be a federal judge under article III

no specific age, education, profession, or citizenship

federal judges are appointed by

nominated by president and confirmed by senate majority vote

federal judge term

lifetime appointment

levels of federal court system

US Supreme Court, court of appeals, district courts, specialized courts

types of cases state courts handle

criminal, family, probate, contracts, traffic cases

judges are selected in state courts by

election or appointment

federal and state jurisdiction differences

federal courts: limited to federal matters

state courts: broad, general jurisdiction

types of cases federal courts handle

federal law and constitutional law cases

difference between criminal and civil cases

criminal: government prosecutes violations of criminal law

civil: private parties sue over personal/legal disputes

felonies vs misdemeanors

felonies: crimes with penalties of more than 1 year in prison

misdemeanors: less than 1 year in jail

common law

law developed by judges through court decisions over time

appellate court proceedings

review lower court decisions for legal errors

precedent

judicial ruling that serves as a basis for future decisions in similar cases

supreme court’s original jurisdiction

cases involving states, US vs. a state, foreign ambassadors

supreme court’s appellate jurisdiction

reviews decisions from US court of appeals and state supreme courts

docket

list of cases supreme court plans to hear

rule of four

four of nine justices agree to hear a case, they will take it

amicus curiae brief

document filed ny someone not in the case to offer information or arguments

judgement

final decision

court opinion

written explanation of court’s decision

concurrence

when a justice agrees with the judgment but for different or additional reasons

dissent

when a justice disagrees with the judgement and majority opinion