Federal Court System Overview

  • The federal court system is structured hierarchically, with the Supreme Court at the top.
    • Supreme Court: Highest court.
    • Court of Appeals: 12 courts of appeals.
    • District Courts: Base level courts and independent regulatory commissions.
    • Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit: Specialized court.
    • Legislative Courts and Military Appeals: Below the mentioned courts.

Establishment of the Federal Court System

  • The U.S. Constitution establishes the Supreme Court and allows Congress to create inferior courts.
    • Congress has created various courts over time as the need arose.
    • This includes legislative courts, military courts, and independent regulatory agencies.

Judicial Concept: Judicial Review

  • Judicial Review: The power to review laws and actions of government to determine constitutionality.

    • Allows judicial branch to check or limit powers of:
    • Executive Branch (President)
    • Legislative Branch (Congress)
    • State and local governments

  • The Supremacy Clause ensures federal law is supreme over state laws, allowing challenges to state actions in federal courts.

Purpose of Judicial Branch

  • Protects constitutional rights by overseeing actions of the executive branch, Congress, and local governments.

Types of Courts in the Federal System

  • Constitutional Courts: Created to exercise judicial power of the U.S.

    • Includes:
    • Supreme Court
    • Court of Appeals
    • District Courts
    • U.S. Court of International Trade

  • Special Courts: Created for special circumstances; do not exercise broad judicial power.

Jurisdiction in Federal Courts

  • Federal cases predominantly begin in District Courts, which hold Original Jurisdiction.
  • If a procedural error occurs, cases may be appealed to the Court of Appeals, which holds Appellate Jurisdiction.
  • The U.S. Supreme Court can review cases on appeal but does not usually serve as the original court.

Important Cases and Precedents

  • Marbury v. Madison (1803): Established the principle of judicial review.

    • Empowered the Supreme Court to nullify legislative or executive acts violating the Constitution.

  • Federalist Paper 78: Promoted the need for a third branch of government (judicial) and judicial review.

  • Recent case impact: presidents' appointments have shifted court ideological balance, e.g., the Dobbs decision overturned Roe v. Wade, indicating how Supreme Court composition can affect decisions.

Types of Jurisdiction

  • Concurrent Jurisdiction: Cases that can be heard in both federal and state courts.
  • Original Jurisdiction: The first court to hear a case.
  • Appellate Jurisdiction: Court hears cases on appeal from lower courts.

Checks on the Judicial Branch

  • Unpopular decisions may lead to challenges against the legitimacy of the court.
    • Congress and the President may respond through:
    • Future appointments
    • Legislative actions modifying jurisdiction
  • Historical example: Andrew Jackson defying a Supreme Court ruling in favor of Native American tribes, illustrating executive evasion of judicial authority.

Federal Judges and Appointments

  • Federal judges are appointed by the President with confirmation by the Senate.

  • The process involves:

    • Nomination by the President
    • Judiciary committee review
    • Senate confirmation

  • Judges serve for life unless impeached for legitimate violations of law or duties.

  • Recent trends show increased partisan splits in lower court confirmations compared to earlier trends.

District Courts Structure

  • More than 90 district courts nationwide, primarily where federal cases begin.

    • Typically one judge per case; districts may have multiple judges based on case load.

  • Federal Magistrates: Assist district judges, issue warrants, and set bail.

  • U.S. Attorneys: Prosecute federal law violations, nominated by the President.

  • Senatorial Courtesy: Practice where Presidents consult home state senators for input on lower court nominations.

Court of Appeals

  • Function: Correct errors of procedure/law from original district court proceedings; no trials or testimony.
  • Serves as a gatekeeper to the Supreme Court, weeding out unmeritorious cases.
  • Composition: Cases heard by rotating judges or panels of three judges.

Supreme Court

  • Highest court, with final say over legal matters; majority of cases via appeals, some through original jurisdiction.

  • Writ of Certiorari: Order from the Supreme Court to lower courts for case reviews.

  • Rule of Four: Four justices must agree to hear a case from a lower court.

  • Decision Process:

    • Oral arguments from both sides.
    • Justices deliberate, then issue opinions, which may be concurring or dissenting.

  • Cases can be impactful on public policy, such as allowing LGBTQ+ service members, abortion rights issues, and desegregation.

Judicial Philosophies

  • Judicial Restraint: Advocates limited judicial power; judges should not strike laws unless clearly unconstitutional.
  • Judicial Activism: Allows personal or political considerations to influence rulings, often aiming to rectify social injustices.

Key Legal Terms

  • Amicus Curiae: Friend-of-the-court brief; filed to add information on behalf of a plaintiff.
  • Stare Decisis: Let the decision stand; courts decline appeals when they believe lower court decisions were correct.
  • Writ of Certiorari: Order by the Supreme Court directing lower courts to send records for review.

Conclusion

  • The lecture details the expansive and intricate federal court system, emphasizing the checks, balances, and interplay among branches of government as well as the influence of judicial philosophy on American law and policy. The court's decisions shape societal norms and rights, reflecting the dynamic relationship between law, government, and society.