Federal Courts

U.S District Court

federal trial courts

What are federal trial courts deal with?

• cases violate law

• crimes involve transportation over state lines

• national security

• selective service violations (selective service is the draft)

What is the judge serving time for the U.S district court?

• lifetime appointments but rarely stay

• served based on their financial position

U. S court of appeals (intermediate)

• federal appellate for U.S district courts

• 13 regional courts

• hears in their geographical district

  • usually, court of last resoet’s for federal cases

U.S supreme court

• highest court in the U.S generally on appellate court

how many judges are on the Supreme Court and how to they become judges?

• 9 justices

• nominated by the president

• confirmed by the senate

what is the original jurisdiction of the Supreme Court?

• trial court

• ambassador cases, election cases, state disputes

What are the selection cases for the Supreme Court?

• appeal court

  • appeal from a federal appeal court

  • appeal from the state supreme court

what kind of appeal cases do the Supreme Court usual like to take?

• cases where the constitutional rights are violated

What is the process in short of the Supreme Court?

1. must file a legal petition

2. clerk reviews for proper filing and payments

3. court issues a writ of certiorari

4. Most appeals are decided on the brief alone

5. opinions

6. Decisions

What is the process for the court issuing a writ of certiorari?

• lower courts must provide everything from the original case

• cases are randomly assigned to a judge in the SC

• clerk of judge reviews and makes recommendations to judges

• rule of four

What is the rule of four in the Supreme Court?

• 4 judges must decide the case has merit 

  • then asked to submit your brieef

  • amicus curiae- friend of the court briefs

Why are most appeals not decided on the brief alone?

• not admitting new evidence to the case unless it is a post conviction appeal

• not admitting new testimony to the case

• may ask to hear oral arguments (30 mins)

What are the opinions that can be given?

• majority opinion

• dissenting opinion

• concurring opinion

What is a dissenting opinion?

• those disagreeing with the ruling

What is a concurring opinion?

• agree with the decision but not with the reasoning

What can the outcome of decisions be?

• may “affirm” the lower courts decision

  • case ends

• may remand/reverse and send use back to lower court