2. Introduction
to Systems
The judicial system in the
United States is actually
made up of two different
court systems: the federal
court system and the
state court systems.
Each court system is
responsible for hearing
certain types of cases,
however neither is
completely independent
of the other, and the
systems often interact.
3. The Structure of Federal Courts Systems
U.S.
Supreme Court
U.S. Courts Of Appeal
U.S. District Courts
4. U.S. District Courts
There are 94 U.S. District
Courts in the United States.
Every state has at least one
district court, and some large
states, such as California,
have as many as four.
Each district
court has
between 2 and
28 judges
U.S. District Courts hear
both civil and criminal
cases, where the judge
determines issues of law,
while the jury determines
findings of fact.
5. U.S. Courts Of Appeal
U.S. Courts Of Appeal
There are 13 U.S. Courts These courts will
With the exception of
of Appeal in the United examine the trial record
criminal cases in which a
States. These courts are for only mistakes of law,
defendant is found not
divided into 12 regional i.e. the FACTS that have
guilty, any party who is
courts and sit in various already been determined
dissatisfied with the
cities throughout the by the U.S. District Court.
judgment of a U.S.
country. When hearing Therefore, the court
District Court may appeal
cases, these courts usually will neither
to the U.S. Court of
usually sit in panels of review the facts of the
Appeal in his/her
three judges. case nor take any
geographical district.
additional evidence.
6. U.S. Supreme Court
The Supreme Court of the United States
sits at the apex of the federal court
system. It is made up of nine judges,
known as justices, and is presided over
by the Chief Justice.
Each year, the Court
accepts between 100
and 150 of the some
7,000 cases it is asked Parties who are not
to hear for argument. satisfied with the
The cases typically fit decision of a U.S. Court
within general criteria of Appeal or a state
for oral arguments. supreme court can ask
Four justices must the U.S. Supreme Court
agree to hear the case. to hear their case. The
Court decides whether
to accept such cases.
7. The Structure of State Courts Systems
State
Supreme
Appellate Courts
Courts
Trial
Courts
8. Trial Courts
Trial Courts are the main trial courts in the state
system. These involve both civil and criminal cases.
One judge (often sitting with a jury) usually hears
them.
In such cases, the judge decides issues of LAW, while
the jury decides issues of FACT (In other words, the
judge deals with the rules of law, while the jury
deals with evidence, witnesses, and lawyers to
decide if the suspect is guilty or not).
9. Intermediate Appellate Courts
Any party, who is not
satisfied with the judgment
of a state Trial Court, may
appeal the matter to an
appropriate Appellate Court.
Such appeals are usually a These courts address
matter of right (meaning the only alleged
Many, but not all, court must hear them). procedural mistakes
states have Appellate and errors of LAW
Courts between the made by the Trial
Trial Courts and the Court. They will
State Supreme Court. usually neither
These courts usually review the FACTS of
sit in panels of two or the case, which have
three judges. been established
during the trial, nor
Appellate accept additional
evidence.
Courts
10. State Supreme Courts
Like the Appellate
All states have some sort of Courts, appeals taken
state supreme courts. In states usually allege a
with Appellate Courts, the mistake of LAW and
State Supreme Courts usually NOT FACT.
have discretionary review as to
whether to accept a case or
not. In states without These courts often sit
Appellate Courts, appeals may in panels of three,
usually be taken to the State State Supreme five, seven, or nine
Supreme Court as a matter of Courts judges/justices.
right (meaning the court must
hear them).
In addition, many State Supreme Courts have original jurisdiction in certain matters.
For example, the highest courts in several states have original jurisdiction over
controversies regarding elections and the reapportionment of legislative districts.
11. Jurisdictions of Federal Courts
Federal courts are courts of limited jurisdiction because they
can hear only two main types of cases:
1. Diversity of Citizenship:
Federal courts can have jurisdiction over a case of a civil
nature in which parties are residents of different states and
the amount in question exceeds the amount that is set by
federal law (currently $75,000). The federal courts are often
required to apply state law when dealing with these cases
since the issues concern matters of state law. The fact that the
parties are from different states and that the amount in
question is high enough is what manages to get such cases
into federal court.
12. 2. Federal Questions:
Federal courts have jurisdiction over cases that arise under the U.S. Bankruptcy
Constitution, the laws of the United States, and the treaties made
under the authority of the United States. These issues are the only
advantage of the federal courts and include:
Patent,
copyright,
Suits and
between trademark
states: Cases cases.
in which two or
more states are
a party. Federal crimes: Crimes defined by or
mentioned in the U.S. Constitution or
those defined and/or punished by federal
law. Such crimes include treason against
the United States, piracy, counterfeiting,
and crimes against the law of nations.
However, most crimes are state matters.
13. Jurisdictions of State Courts
The jurisdiction of the state courts extends to basically any type of case that does not fall within the
exclusive jurisdiction of the federal courts. State courts are common-law courts. This means that
they not only have the authority to apply or interpret the law, but they often have the authority to
create law if it does not yet exist to solve a specific legal problem. Examples of cases within the
jurisdiction of the state courts include the following:
State criminal offenses:
Crimes defined and/or punished Cases involving
by the state constitution or Election issues: the state
applicable state statute. Most constitution:
crimes are state criminal offenses. The law
They include offenses such as concerning voter Cases involving the
murder, theft, breaking and registration, interpretation of a
entering, and destruction of voting in general, state constitution.
legislative
property. reapportionment,
etc.
Contract law: Family:
Agreements between The body of law dealing
two or more parties with marriage, divorce,
creating obligations adoption, child custody
that are either and support, and
enforceable or domestic-relations
otherwise recognized issues.
as law.
14. Joint Jurisdiction Between Federal & State Courts
Federal Question:
Diversity of Citizenship: Any state court may interpret
In civil cases involving citizens the U.S. Constitution, federal
of two or more states in which statute, treaty, etc., if the
the dollar amount in question applicable Constitutional
exceeds $75,000, a state court provision, statute, or treaty has
may hear the case if the direct bearing on a case
defendant in the case does not brought in state court under a
ask to have the case removed state law. However, by
to federal court. Furthermore, interpreting the U.S.
if a civil case involves two or Constitution, federal statute,
more citizens of different or treaty, the state is
states but the amount in subjecting itself to federal
question does not exceed review. This means that after a
$75,000, the case must be State Supreme Court has acted
heard by a state court. on a case, the U.S. Supreme
Court may review it.
