Comparing the judicial branch at federal and state level

1. Supreme Court
Only 1
Have original &
Appellate jurisdiction
12 US Courts of Appeals: Courts who
Review cases on appeal from the
districts.
Also called circuit courts. Only rule on
law
And law application not verdict.
& US Court of Appeals for the Federal
Circuit
94 District Courts: Courts of original jurisdiction
These courts do most of the work
Other ‘district’ courts: US Court of Federal Claims, Territorial
Courts,
Courts of DC, US Court of Veterans Claims, US Courts of
Appeals for the
Armed Forces, US Tax Court
US Constitution
Article III: Federal
Judiciary
9 Members on the US
Supreme Court
1 Chief & 8 Associate
Justices
Panel of 3 judges who
review case & affirm or
reverse verdict or
remand case.
Trial Court

2. NC
Supreme
Court
7 members
1 Chief & 6 Associates
NC Appellate Courts – 15 judges sit
in rotating panels of 3, deciding only
questions of law on cases appealed
from Superior and District Courts.
North Carolina Lower Courts: NC Superior Court-
Also called county court or circuit courts with and may
be
specialized in criminal, civil, and juvenile. Hears all
felony
cases, civil cases over $10,000, and serious juvenile
cases.
NC District Courts- can be divided into 4 categories – civil, criminal,
juvenile and magistrate. NCDCs sit in the county seat of each county – for
civil cases such as divorce, child custody & support, & involving less than
$10,000
along with criminal misdemeanors. Magistrate courts accept guilty pleas
for minor
misdemeanors, traffic violations, and civil cases involving less than $4,000.
They supervise all other state courts. No
determination in fact – only considers error in
law. All decisions final unless appealed to
USSupCt.
NC Constitution
Article IV: The
State Judiciary

3. NC
members
Chief & Associates
NC _______________ Courts –
judges sit in rotating panels
of ______, deciding only
North Carolina ____________: NC _______ Court-
Also called ____________________________ with and
may be
specialized in . Hears
all _________
cases, _______ cases over _________, and
__________________.
NC _______________- can be divided into __ categories –
. NCDCs sit in the ____________ of each county –
for
civil cases such as
along with criminal misdemeanors.
They supervise all other state courts. No
determination in fact – only considers error in
law. All decisions final unless appealed to
USSupCt.
NC Article IV: The
State Judiciary

4. _____________
Only 1
Have ______ &
_________ jurisdiction
____US Courts of ________: Courts who
Review cases on appeal from the districts.
Also called circuit courts. _____________
And law application not verdict.
& US Court of Appeals for the Federal
Circuit
____________________________: Courts of original
jurisdiction
Other ‘district’ courts:
Article III: Federal
Judiciary
__ Members on the US
Supreme Court
1 ______ & __ ___________
Justices
Panel of _____ judges
who ______ case &
________ or
_______verdict or
____________ case.
Trial Court