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Criminal Law
Involves conduct with government as plaintiff and individual as defendant.
Civil Law
Deals with disputes among individuals, groups, and corporations without criminal charges.
Tort Case
Involves one individual claiming injury due to another's negligence, like medical malpractice.
Precedent
Prior case principles used as a basis for current case decisions.
Stare Decisis
Doctrine where previous decisions apply to current cases.
Trial Courts
Initial courts where most legal cases start, such as traffic or small courts.
Appellate Courts
Courts where cases can be appealed for review based on legal aspects.
U.S. District Court
Federal court handling issues of law and fact, with 95 districts in the U.S.
U.S. Court of Appeals
Federal court deciding questions of law, with 12 circuits in the U.S.
State Supreme Court
Highest court in a state, handling appeals from lower state courts.
U.S. Supreme Court
Highest federal court in the U.S., dealing with constitutional legal aspects.
Federal Trial Courts
Initial federal courts for federal issues, with one judge per case.
Federal Public Courts
Regional circuits with multiple judges per case, including Washington, D.C.
Supreme Court
Nine-member court serving as the final authority on legal issues.
Federal Judges
Appointed by the President, no formal qualifications
American Bar Association
Vets potential judges for suitability
Senate Confirmation
Required for federal judge appointments
Supreme Court Appointments
Subject to Senate scrutiny and committee hearings
Partisan Struggle
Intense political battles over appointments
Judicial District Courts
94 courts organized into 11 regional circuits and DC
Federal Appellate Court Circuits
Geographically assigned courts for interpreting laws
9th Circuit
Arizona, California, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana
Equal Treatment Under Law
Ensuring uniformity in legal rulings across the nation
Supreme Court Jurisdiction
Original jurisdiction in specific cases, final legal authority
United States versus Missouri
Example of a case falling under Supreme Court's original jurisdiction
Original Jurisdiction
Supreme Court first to hear cases involving states or foreign ambassadors.
Appellate Jurisdiction
Supreme Court hears cases on appeal from lower courts.
Balance of Independence
Ensuring judges can decide without political influence.
Balance of Accountability
Ensuring judges are responsive to popular will.
Judicial Independence
Judges free to decide without fear of political repercussions.
Judicial Accountability
Judges responsive to public opinion and can be removed.
Judicial Review
Power of courts to invalidate unconstitutional actions by other branches.
Marbury v. Madison
Landmark case establishing judicial review in 1803.
Chief Justice John Marshall
Inaugural Chief Justice who established the authority of the Supreme Court.
Midnight Appointments
Last-minute appointments made by outgoing presidents.
Supreme Court Justices
Nine members including Sonia Sotomayor, Clarence Thomas, and others.
Impeachment of Judges
Process to remove judges, including Supreme Court justices.
Life Tenure
Supreme Court justices serve until retirement or impeachment.
Thomas Jefferson
President during Marbury v. Madison case
John Marshall
Chief Justice of the Supreme Court during Marbury v. Madison
Legislation
Basis for Marbury's claim deemed unconstitutional
Constitution
Document alluded to in establishing judicial review
Federalist Papers
Document referencing judicial review
Supremacy Clause
Allows Supreme Court to reverse state laws
Judiciary Act of 1798
Legislation used for judicial review
Brown v. Board of Education
Case desegregating schools in 1954
Pavon v. Smith
Case granting same-sex couples rights in 2017
Hamden v. Rumsfeld
Case limiting presidential power in 2006
Writ of Certiorari
Order for lower court records to be reviewed by Supreme Court
Solicitor General
Represents the government in Supreme Court cases
Standing
Requirement to have a concrete stake in a case
Mootness
Determines if a case is still relevant
Ripeness
Assesses if a case is ready for consideration
Case or Controversy
Requirement for an actual legal conflict
Rogue Case
Example of a case taken despite resolution
Supreme Court Cases
Decisions on laws, regulations, and presidential power
Respect for Courts
Necessary for judicial decisions to be effective
Four Judges
Minimum agreement needed to hear a case
Solicitor General's Role
Advocates for government in Supreme Court cases
Amicus Curiae Briefs
Briefs written by non-parties to provide additional context to a case
Collegial Courts
Courts where judges work together until retirement or death
Oral Argument
Attorneys present their case for 30 minutes before the court
Conference
Private meeting where the court discusses cases
Opinion Writing
Process where Chief Justice assigns opinions after oral arguments
Dissenting Opinion
Written by a judge who disagrees with the majority decision
Concurring Opinion
Written by a judge who agrees with the decision but with different reasoning
Case Law
Precedent set by past court decisions used to justify current rulings
Judicial Restraint
Philosophy where judges stick strictly to the Constitution's words
Judicial Activism
Philosophy where judges consider broader societal implications beyond the Constitution
Chief Justice
Head of the Supreme Court, appoints opinions and leads the court
Court Legitimacy
Maintaining public respect for the institution's decisions
Court Power Limitations
Judges can only rule on cases brought before them
