Ch. 9 - Courts_Structure and Participants (J101)

Page 1: Courts Overview

• Courts: Structure and participants in the judicial system.

Page 2: Structure of U.S. Courts

• Dual-Court System:

  • State courts possess significant legislative and judicial power.

  • Limited federal intervention in state legal matters.

  • State courts handle violations of state law.

• Federal Courts:

  • Comprise a three-tiered structure:

    • District Courts (trial courts)

    • Courts of Appeal

    • Supreme Court

  • Handle violations of federal law.

Page 3: State Court System

• State Trial Courts:

  • Responsible for arraignments, bail, pleas, and conducting trials.

  • Types of State Courts:

    • Courts of Limited Jurisdiction:

      • More informal, handle minor cases (e.g., traffic, misdemeanors, small claims).

    • Courts of General Jurisdiction:

      • More formal, can try any case and may serve as appellate courts.

• Resource: National Center for State Courts (NCSC).

Page 4: State Appellate Courts

• Hierarchy:

  • Court of Appeals: intermediate-level, most states have them.

  • State Supreme Court: high-level appellate court; present in all states.

  • Appeals allow convicted defendants to seek review of lower court decisions.

  • Appellate courts do not conduct new trials but review cases for errors.

  • Automatic reviews for death or life sentences.

  • Most original rulings are affirmed.

Page 5: Indiana Supreme Court Structure

• Indiana Supreme Court:

  • Composed of 5 justices; serves as a court of last resort.

• Court of Appeals: 15 judges; handles appeals from trial courts.

• Other Courts:

  • Tax Court, Intermediate Appellate Courts, Small Claims Courts.

• Jurisdiction Types:

  • Limited jurisdiction courts handle minor cases.

  • General jurisdiction courts handle more serious cases.

Page 6: Remote Court Hearings in Indiana

• Remote Video Hearings:

  • Enabled by Supreme Court order; open to the public.

  • Live-streaming language in Indiana courts; laws governing proceedings apply.

  • Information for public on case scheduling and access available online.

  • Legal Notice: Recording hearings is prohibited.

Page 7: State Court Administration

• Administrative Functions:

  • Focus on funding, staffing, training, and case flow management.

  • Dispute Resolution Centers:

    • Aim to resolve minor disputes without full court intervention.

    • Help reduce caseloads in lower-level courts.

    • Example: Indiana's Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR).

  • Problem-Solving Courts:

    • Focus on specific issues (e.g., drugs, mental health) to address root problems of crime.

Page 8: Problem Solving Courts in Indiana

• Specific Courts:

  • Drug Court: Led by Hon. Jose D. Salinas, focuses on drug issues.

  • Mental Health Court: Led by Hon. Amy M. Jones, addresses mental health-related cases.

  • Reentry Court: Encourages rehabilitation and reintegration of offenders.

  • Family Recovery Court: Supports families in need of assistance.

  • Veterans Court: Tailors services for veterans.

Page 9: Cultural Representation in Courts

• Overview:

  • Judicial dramas often glamorize the legal system; "My Cousin Vinny" represents a comedic perspective on trial.

Page 10: Federal Court System Introduction

• Creation: Established by the U.S. Constitution.

• U.S. District Courts:

  • Serve as trial courts for both civil and criminal cases.

  • At least one district court in each state; states with larger populations have more.

  • Indiana has two district courts, Northern and Southern.

  • Judges appointed for life terms by the president.

Page 11: U.S. Court of Appeals

• Function: Hears appeals from U.S. District Courts.

• Circuit Structure:

  • 13 circuits, Indiana is part of the 7th circuit (based in Chicago).

  • Life term judges are appointed by the president.

  • Panel reviews cases with three judges.

Page 12: Geographic Boundaries

• Maps of Courts: Illustrate the boundaries of various U.S. Courts of Appeals and District Courts.

  • Each state falls under specific circuit appellate jurisdictions.

Page 13: Supreme Court of the United States

• Composition: Nine justices, appointed by the president and confirmed by the senate.

• Judicial Powers: Has the ability of judicial review—reviewing state and federal cases.

• Handles approximately 5,000 requests per year, of which only 200 are heard (less than 5%).

• Rulings can include concurring and dissenting opinions.

Page 14: Diversity in the Supreme Court

• Historical Note: The Supreme Court shows disparities in representation, particularly regarding legal backgrounds of justices.

  • Discussion on how this impacts case handling and perspectives.

Page 15: Judgeship Appointments by Presidents

• Historical Data:

  • Summary of judicial appointments organized by presidential terms from Bush to Biden, reflecting trends over time.

Page 16: The Courtroom Work Group

• Types of Courtroom Actors:

  • Professionals: Judges, lawyers, bailiffs, court reporters.

  • Outsiders: Victims, defendants, witnesses, jurors.

  • The workgroup helps ensure efficient court process.

Page 17: Role of the Judge

• Responsibilities:

  • Upholds justice, safeguards rights, rules on legal matters, and manages court procedures.

  • Sentences offenders post-verdict.

• Selection Process:

  • Judges are appointed or elected depending on the jurisdiction (federal or state).

  • Must possess a law degree and bar association membership.

Page 18: Role of Prosecuting Attorney

• Responsibilities:

  • Represents the state; presents evidence against the defendant.

  • Holds burden of proof and makes case for conviction.

  • Exercises prosecutorial discretion.

• Professional Duties:

  • Must disclose all evidence to the defense, including exculpatory materials.

  • Faces challenges in fair prosecution and avoidance of personal biases.

Page 19: Role of Defense Counsel

• Role Overview:

  • Protects rights of the defendant from arrest to trial.

  • Tests the prosecution's case, negotiates plea deals, prepares defenses, and argues during sentencing.

• Types of Counsel:

  • Retained Counsel: Paid by the defendant.

  • Indigent Defense: Provided by the state for defendants who cannot afford an attorney.