Legal System Overview

Legal System Overview

Separation of Powers

  • 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.
  • Probable Cause:
    • Required for an arrest or a search warrant.