In-Depth Notes on Federal Courts and Legal Systems

Overview of Legal Systems

• Understanding the two main types of law: Criminal Law and Civil Law.

Events

• ACLU/Democracy Forward: They brought a deportation case to the US District Court challenging the Alien Enemies Act.
• Sen. Bernie Sanders & Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez on a nationwide "Fighting Oligarchy" tour emphasizing progressive policies and class struggle.

The Federal Courts

• Overview of different court types, jurisdiction, and important landmark cases.

Criminal Law

• Government is always the plaintiff in criminal cases.
• Regulates conduct, defines crimes (range from traffic offenses to murder), and specifies punishments.
• Defendants found guilty may face fines or jail time.
• A guilty verdict results in conviction.
  • Plaintiff: the one bringing charges.
  • Defendant: the one accused.

Civil Law

• Covers disputes among individuals, groups, corporations, and private entities, or with the government.
• Losers in civil cases cannot face jail time but might be required to pay damages.
• Common areas include contracts, torts, and administrative conflicts.

Tort Law

• Involves harmful behaviors such as:
  • Defamation: false statements harming a person's reputation.
  • Battery: unlawful physical contact.
  • Trespassing: unauthorized entry onto another's property.
  • False detention: illegally holding someone.

Precedent and Stare Decisis

• Precedent: A principle from a prior case used to guide decisions in the present case.
• Stare Decisis: Latin for "let the decision stand"; honors previous legal decisions.

The Plea Bargain

• A guilty plea exchanged for a lesser charge.
• Common way to resolve most criminal cases without trial.
• Important: a plea bargain is not an admission of guilt.

Federal Court Jurisdiction

• Defines the court's power based on geographic area or issues involved (like patents and international trade).
• Original Jurisdiction: The authority to initially consider a case.

Types of Courts

Trial Court

• The first court to hear a case; over 97% of cases are in state courts.
• If a defendant is found guilty, they may appeal.

Appellate Court

• Also known as courts of appeals.
• The appellant must show a legal error from the trial court.
• These courts do not hear new evidence or witnesses.

Federal Courts: Cases Heard

• Include federal law violations, treaties, constitutional issues, or cases involving the U.S. government.
• These courts hear civil cases involving citizens from different states with amounts exceeding $75,000.

The Federal Courts: Trial Courts

• There are 94 federal district courts with varying judicial loads.

Appellate Courts

• Review 20% of lower-court cases, with 11 regional appeals courts and 1 Federal Circuit.
• Their decisions, unless reviewed by the Supreme Court, are final.

U.S. Supreme Court

• The highest court; has the final say on matters of law.
• Composed of nine justices with equal authority.

Judicial Review

• Power to declare laws or executive actions unconstitutional, rooted in Marbury v. Madison (1803), which established judicial review.
• State laws conflicting with the Constitution may also be overturned.

Supreme Court's Role

• Original Jurisdiction in limited cases (e.g., disputes between states).
• Most cases heard through writ of certiorari, requiring agreement from 4 of 9 justices.

Legal Actors

• Solicitor General: Oversees government cases.
• Supreme Court Clerks: Assist in determining precedence and case choices.
• Interest Groups: Often file amicus briefs to influence decisions.

Supreme Court Procedures

• Involves submission of briefs outlining legal arguments, followed by oral arguments from each party.
• Justices meet after to vote on the case, with opinions drafted by members of the majority.

Reasons for Decisions

• Decisions may hinge upon law, precedent, societal values, institutional interests, and judicial philosophies.