Judicial Branch/Federal Courts

American Government Study Guide

Three-tiered System (FED) #1 District courts

Trial courts where cases start (Lowest Level)

Three-tiered System (FED) #2 Appellate courts 

Review decisions from district courts. (Middle Lowest Level)

Three-tiered System (FED) #3 Supreme court

Final authority, settles disputes, interprets the Constitution, and reviews lower court rulings. (Highest Level)

Judiciary Act of 1789

Created the federal court system, establishing district and appellate courts and setting the number of Supreme Court justices.

District Courts

Are the federal trial courts where cases start, handling both civil and criminal matters.

Court of Appeals

Hears appeals from district courts & some federal agencies

12 circuit with a court of appeals in each circuit

Supreme Court

• An appellate court

• Some original jurisdiction as outlines in the Constitution

• Chooses which cases it hears (issues of constitutionally)

Appellate Court

It’s a court that hears appeals and checks if the trial was fair and legally correct.

Appeal

It’s when someone challenges a court’s ruling by taking it to a higher court.

Appellate Courts Can….

• Affirm the trail court’s decision, letting it stand

• Reverse the decision

• Remand the case back to the trail court to start over

Supreme Court Can…

• Reviews the appeals court decision for error

• Decisions must be follwoed by all lower courts

Court of Appeals can…

• reviews the trail court decision for error

• Decisions must be followed by all trail courts

Trail Court can…

• Hears cases for the first time

• Reviews evidence to decide who is right

When more than one judge listens to a case, the group of judges is called a….

Panel

The power of deciding what is constitutional is called…

Judicial Review

Supreme Court (Defined)

It’s the top court that makes ultimate legal and constitutional rulings.

Federal court system

Deals with disputes about laws that apply to the entire United States.

State court systems

Mostly deals with disputes about state laws

Civil

Relating to the rights of citizens

Criminal

Relating to crime

Criminal Case

It’s when a person is tried for committing a crime.

Civil Case

It’s when people or groups go to court to resolve non-criminal issues, like contracts or property.

In trial court, lawyers use ________ to try to prove that their client’s side of the story is what really happened.

evidence

In ____ _____, a group of twelve people listens to the evidence and decides who wins the case.

jury trial

Verdict

It’s the final ruling that decides guilt or liability.

In a ____ ____ there is no jury, so the judge gives the verdict.

bench trial

State Courts

matters of state law

Federal Courts

cases dealing with the Constitution (fed. law)

_______ set up fed. Court system to clarify rulings between state courts & national standard.

Constitution

Jurisdiction

authority to hear & decide a case

Exclusive jurisdiction

sole right to hear a case

Concurrent jurisdiction

Both state & fed

Original jurisdiction

The court that first hears a case

Why is jurisdiction complicated by the nation’s dual court system?

cases sometimes fall under both state & federal jurisdiction

How is jurisdiction determined in the American court system?

State courts hear matters so state law & federal court cases involve the Constitution or federal law

Judge

instruct juries about law, make sure proper trail procedures are followed

Magistrate judges

early hearings, civil cases or minor criminal cases (misdemanors)

Clerks

handle non-judicial tasks, records

U.S Attorney

represents U.S Govt., prosecute individuals

Public defenders

lawyers appointed by court to represent defendants

U.S Marshals

security & policy protection

Jurisdiction of District Courts

• cases involving foreign govt. & resident of different states

• Federal violations of employment

• Grand juries hear evidence

• bankruptcy court separate 

Purpose of Appellate courts

hears cases on appeal from district courts within their circuit

procedure of Appellate courts

• panel of judges review court records & read briefs (relies on facts of original cases, do not retry!)

• Burden of proof lies with appellant

• Overturned when improper procedures were followed

Appeals court ruling

• rulings usually stans

• En banc review - larger panel of judges

The Federal Circuit

national appellate jurisdiction (patents, trademarks, govt. contracts, international trade)

What is the path by which a case travels through a court of appeals?

The appellant shows that the original ruling was based on a legal mistake. A panel of judges reviews the trail court record & reads briefs submitted by both sides & may hear oral arguments. The govt. side is then presented. The court makes its ruling. The case may be sent back to district court, or it may undergo review by the U.S. Supreme Court​

Purpose of cases

• Judge the constitutionality of the law

• Settle disputes (weakness of the A/I)

How many justices on the Supreme Court of the United States?

9

Are there qualifications to be federal judge

No

Term of judges

Are there unless they resign or become impeached

Judges are selected how?

Federal judges are nominated by the President and then must be confirmed by the Senate.

What article is the judicial branch covering?

Article III of the U.S. Constitution

Purpose of the judicial branch

Exists to uphold the Constitution and deliver fair justice

Purpose of federal 

Exist to apply federal law, protect constitutional rights, and maintain justice nationwide.

Qualifications to become supreme court justice

No official qualifications

Which of the 3-tiered courts are the trail courts?

District Courts = trial courts where cases begin, evidence is presented, and verdicts are given.

Job description of federal district judge

Presides over federal trial courts, oversees civil and criminal cases, interprets federal law, rules on motions, ensures fair trials, and protects constitutional rights. Appointed by the President, confirmed by the Senate, and serves for life.

Process of removing a federal judge

Can only be removed through impeachment by the House of Representatives and conviction by the Senate.

Judicial Review

The power of courts to decide if laws or government actions are constitutional.

Structure of federal court system

District Courts → Appeals Courts → Supreme Court (3-tier system).

Officers of a court

Individuals who help the court function, including judges, clerks, bailiffs, court reporters, and attorneys

Presidential considerations of a nominee

Weigh experience, ideology, politics, confirmability, and diversity when nominating judges

The Constitution says that justice may serve

If they maintain good behavior

Out of more than 7,000 cases the court is asked to hear each term, how many is it able to hear?

About 100

What do the justices, primalry, do with their time when they are not on the bench?

Write opinions

An independent judiciary means that:

1. Judges are not infuenced by opinions polls or protest marches.

2. Judges are not influenced by media reports.

3. Judges do not ask the President or members of Congress how the Court should decide cases.