Federal Court System Notes

Federal Court System

Court Systems

  • Two separate court systems:
    • Federal
    • State
  • Most cases are heard in state courts.
  • Two kinds of court cases:
    • Civil: Dispute between two parties.
    • Criminal: A crime has been committed; accused person on trial.

Jurisdiction

  • The authority to hear a question or case in dispute.
  • Original Jurisdiction:
    • Belongs to the court which has the initial authority to hear a case.
  • Exclusive Jurisdiction:
    • Jurisdiction belongs to only one court.
  • Concurrent Jurisdiction:
    • A case can be heard in one of several courts.

Federal District Court

  • Lowest level of Federal Courts.
  • All federal cases must begin at this level.
  • Each court rules over a district; at least one court per state.
  • District Courts complete about 90% of the Federal case load.

Federal District Court – Court’s Purpose

  • District Courts handle cases that fall under Federal jurisdiction.
    • Federal Law is being broken.
  • District Courts use a jury trial to decide guilt or innocence.
    • A person is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
  • Judges are to interpret the law and determine punishments.

Court Officials

  • Federal Judges:
    • Appointed by the President with Senate approval.
    • Salary: 133,600133,600
    • Serve a life-time term based on good behavior.
    • Can be impeached.
    • Do not have to make decisions based on what people want.
  • U.S. Attorneys:
    • Represent the government in all cases.
  • U.S. Marshals:
    • Make arrests, escort prisoners, keep order in federal court.
  • Magistrates:
    • Hear civil cases, issue search warrants.

Federal Appeals Court

  • Appeals courts serve as the second level in the system.
  • Federal Appeals courts have only appellate jurisdiction.
  • There are 12 Courts of Appeal in the U.S. which supervise a district.
  • Why do cases reach this court?
    • Cases are appealed to the Court because of unfairness or error.
  • Circuit Courts:
    • 1st Circuit - Boston
    • 2nd Circuit – NYC
    • 3rd Circuit – Philadelphia
    • 4th Circuit – Richmond (NC’s district court)
    • 5th Circuit – New Orleans
    • 6th Circuit – Cincinnati
    • 7th Circuit – Chicago
    • 8th Circuit – St. Louis
    • 9th Circuit – San Francisco
    • 10th Circuit – Denver
    • 11th Circuit – Atlanta
    • DC Circuit – Washington DC

Federal Appeals Court – Court Rulings

  • Cases are appealed to this Court because of unfairness or error.
  • Appeals Courts can make three decisions in a case:
    • Uphold: Confirm the previous court’s decision.
    • Overturn: Reverse the previous court’s decision.
    • Remand: Send the case back down to a lower court for retrial.