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Article III: The Federal Courts. Constitutional Courts. Article III – judicial power Supreme Court Appeals Court District Court. Organization of the Federal Court System. Supreme Court. 13 Circuit Courts – Appeals Ct. 94 District Trial Courts. Jurisdiction. - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
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Article III: The Federal Courts
Constitutional Courts
Article III – judicial power
1. Supreme Court
2. Appeals Court
3. District Court
Organization of the Federal Court System
94 District
Trial Courts
13 Circuit Courts – Appeals
Ct.
Supreme
Court
Jurisdiction authority of a court to hear a case Types of Cases for Federal Court
Subject matter Constitutionality or federal law
drug trafficking
Parties involved United States is a party
Schenck v United States (1919) Two or More States
New Jersey v New York (1998)
Federal District Courts
Federal District Courts have original jurisdiction – the authority to hear cases for the first timeDetermine facts of the caseWitnesses testifyEvidence is presentedJury deliberatesVerdict is given
Article III: The Federal Courts
Circuit Court of Appeals They don’t decide innocence/guilt! There are 12 regional circuit courts – PA is in
the 3rd
Circuit Court of Appeals Circuit courts have appellate
jurisdiction – the authority to review the fairness of the cases. Did the judge admit evidence correctly?Did the judge interpret the law wrong?
Rulings in Appeals Courts
A panel of judges reviews the records from the trial court and listens to the lawyers argue to ensure the trial was fair. They can: Uphold the decision (keep it!) Reverse it (change it!) Remand it (send it back to be retried)
Their decision is FINAL unless the Supreme Court decides to consider it.
Opinions Opinions are the rulings of the Appeals
and the Supreme Court. It is an explanation of the legal thinking behind the court’s decision.
Decision Making on the Court
Types of Opinionsa. Majority – decision of the court
b. Concurring – agrees with court decision with different reasoning
c. Dissenting – disagreement with the court decision
United States Supreme Court
jurisdiction of the US Supreme Court both original and appellate
overwhelmingly cases are heard through appellate jurisdiction
Other Court Officials
Magistrate – determine if there is enough evidence to have a trial
US Attorney – prosecute people accused of breaking federal law
US Marshall – make arrests, collect fines, and take convicted people to jail. They also issue subpoenas – a court order requesting a person to appear in court
