The US government is divided into three branches at both state and federal levels:
Legislative
Executive
Judicial
Legislative Branch:
Federal Level: Congress, including the House of Representatives and the Senate.
State Level: State assembly and state senate.
Executive Branch:
Federal Level: The President and Vice President.
State Level: The Governor.
Judicial Branch:
The Constitution established a Supreme Court and additional courts as necessary.
Purpose: Founding fathers aimed to prevent a strong central government and avoid a monarchy.
Checks and Balances
Each branch of government acts as a check against the others.
Legislative (Congress):
Passes laws.
Allocates funds; the President cannot spend money without congressional approval.
Executive (President):
Signs laws into effect; has the power to veto laws passed by Congress.
Appoints justices to federal courts, but these appointments must be confirmed by Congress.
Judicial (Courts):
Can declare acts of the President and Congress unconstitutional.
Interprets the meaning of laws passed by Congress and signed by the President.
Federalism
Power is shared at the federal, state, and local levels; there isn't a single central government.
The federal government's regulatory powers are defined by the Constitution.
States retain powers; they cannot coin money or regulate immigration.
The original 13 states were cautious about surrendering sovereignty to a central government.
State and Federal Court Systems
Each state has its own courts, laws, rules, and regulations.
Federal courts handle federal matters.
State laws vary; burglary definitions differ from state to state.
The course will focus on general principles with occasional California-specific examples.
Court System Hierarchy
Despite 51 different court systems, they follow a similar hierarchical structure:
Trial Courts (at the bottom)
Intermediate Appellate Courts (in the middle)
Supreme Courts (at the top; 51 supreme courts in the US)
New York is the exception and uses the name differently.
Trial Courts
Where cases originate; courts of original jurisdiction.
California's trial court is the Superior Court (formerly included municipal, justice, common pleas, and probate courts).
Federal system's trial courts are the Federal District Courts; each state has at least one district.
Larger states like California, Texas, and New York have multiple district courts (e.g., Southern, Central, Eastern, and Northern Districts of California).
99% of court system activities occur in trial courts.
Activities include:
Filing cases
Hearing evidence
Conducting trials
Impaneling juries
Intermediate Appellate Courts
Hear appeals from trial courts based on questions of law.
Appeals Considerations:
Appeals are not for relitigating facts or seeking a "do-over."
Appeals address mistakes made by the judge in applying the law.
Grounds for appeal include errors in evidence admission or jury instructions.
Appellate Court Options:
Affirm: Agree with the trial court's decision.
Reverse: Overturn the trial court's decision.
Remand: Send the case back to the trial court for reconsideration or a new trial.
Court System Structure
Federal System:
US District Courts → US Courts of Appeals → Supreme Court
State System (California):
Trial Courts (Superior Court) → Intermediate Appellate Courts (District Courts of Appeal) → High Court (California Supreme Court)
Statutory and Case Law
Law consists of both:
Statutory Law: Laws passed by the legislature and signed by the executive.
Case Law: Interpretation of laws by judges.
Appellate courts interpret laws; their decisions establish precedents.
Stare Decisis: Trial courts must follow appellate court rulings within their jurisdiction.
State Supreme Court Authority: The state supreme court is the ultimate authority on state law.
Appeals from state courts to federal courts are only permissible when a violation of the US Constitution is claimed.
Geographic Divisions of Appellate Courts
California's Fourth Appellate District hears appeals from Riverside Superior Court; further appeals can be made to the California Supreme Court.
The federal system divides Circuit Courts of Appeals geographically; California is in the Ninth Circuit.
Decisions of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals are binding on district courts within the Ninth Circuit.
Appeals from the Ninth Circuit can be made to the U.S. Supreme Court.
Burden of Proof
Beyond a Reasonable Doubt
In criminal cases, the jury must be convinced beyond a reasonable doubt to find the defendant guilty (innocent until proven guilty).
High Standard: Proof to a moral certainty, leaving no reasonable doubt.
Proof beyond a reasonable doubt requires proof of all elements of the crime (using the recipe analogy).
Other Levels of Doubt
Preponderance of the Evidence:
More likely than not (50.1%).
The burden of proof in civil cases.
Example: OJ Simpson was found not guilty in criminal court but liable for wrongful death in civil court due to the different standards.