The Federal Courts

The Federal Courts - Study Notes

Learning Objectives

• Jurisdiction
  • Explain the concept of jurisdiction and how courts determine which cases they can hear.
• Federal Court Structure
  • Describe the structure of lower federal courts and how judges at different levels hear and decide cases.
• Supreme Court Operations
  • Explain which cases make it to the Supreme Court and the procedures used to hear and decide cases.
• Judicial Selection
  • Explain how federal judges are selected and the role of partisanship in nominations.
• Decision-Making Theories
  • Describe the three major theories of judicial decision making.

Jurisdiction

• Definition:

  • Jurisdiction is defined as the right of a court to consider a particular case.

• Importance of Jurisdiction:

  • Defines the limits of a court's power and establishes clear boundaries for judicial authority.
  • Determines which court can hear which cases based on specific legal criteria and constitutional principles.
  • Prevents forum shopping and conflicting decisions by ensuring cases are filed in appropriate venues.
  • Ensures cases are heard by the appropriate level of court with proper expertise and authority.

Two Parallel Court Systems in the US

• State Courts:

  • Broader jurisdiction (can hear most types of cases).
  • Handle the vast majority of legal disputes.
  • Include municipal/local courts.

• Federal Courts:

  • Limited jurisdiction (only specific types of cases).
  • Consistent with the principle of limited government.
  • Defined by Article III of the Constitution.

Types of Federal Jurisdiction

• Article III of the Constitution defines TWO broad types of federal jurisdiction:

  1. Federal Question Jurisdiction:
  • Cases involving the U.S. Constitution or federal laws.
  • Includes:
    • Constitutional challenges to any law at any level of government.
    • Cases where the U.S. government is a party to the dispute.
    • Federal criminal prosecutions and civil rights violations.
    • Immigration, bankruptcy, and patent disputes.
  1. Diversity Jurisdiction:
  • Cases between parties from different states (created by Congress).
  • Conditions:
    • Must involve citizens from two different states as opposing parties.
    • Amount in controversy must exceed $75,000 (based on plaintiff's claims).
    • Designed to protect against state court bias toward out-of-state residents.
    • Reflects founders' concern about interstate fairness and commerce.

Examples of Federal Jurisdiction

• Federal Question Jurisdiction Example:

  • Scenario: A postal delivery vehicle runs a red light and hits another car.
  • Reason for Federal Court:
  • The Postal Service is part of the federal government.
  • The United States is a party to the case.
  • Must be heard in federal court regardless of dollar amount, even if damages are only $5,000.

• Diversity Jurisdiction Example:

  • Scenario: A California software company hired