The document discusses the structure and jurisdiction of the U.S. federal court system. It describes the main levels as the Supreme Court, Courts of Appeals, and District Courts. It also mentions several specialty courts like the Court of International Trade. The document provides information on jurisdiction, types of cases heard at each level, appointment of judges, and compares the federal system to state court structures.

1. Judicial Branch Chapter 11 & 12

2. Types of Federal Courts Constitutional Courts Set up by Congress under Article III of the Constitution Special Courts Are legislative courts set up by Congress

3. Divisions of the U.S. Court System Supreme Court Courts of Appeal District Courts Court of International Trade Court of Military Appeals U.S. Tax Court Territorial Courts Courts of District of Columbia Court of Veteran’s Appeals

4. Jurisdiction Authority to hear and decide cases Subject matter Federal laws (federal courts) State law (state courts)

5. Jurisdiction Parties- plaintiffs and defendants Exclusive- determines where court cases belong Concurrent- federal, state, local Original- where the case is first heard Appellate- next step after the original case

6. District Courts 91 Courts 632 Judges Judges Salary- $133,000 Cases heard in District Courts Bank robbery, kidnapping, mail fraud, computer fraud, counterfeiting, murder of federal official, treason

7. District Courts These courts use both grand and petit juries Judges appointed for life by the President Confirmed by the U.S. Senate East St. Louis and Benton are the district courts near here

8. Courts of Appeal Formed in 1891 12 Courts 179 Judges Appointed by the President for life, confirmed by the U.S. Senate Salary: $141,000

9. Courts of Appeal Any appeal from a lower court in their district Hear 25,000 cases a year Seventh Circuit Court located in Chicago is the closest

10. Supreme Court Chief Justice- John Roberts Appointed by George W. Bush in 2006 Jurisdiction Original and appellate cases 3,500-4,000 cases reach the S.C. each year Half are returned to lower court Writ of Certiorari Writ of Appeal Writ of Certificate Page 523

11. Supreme Court at Work Sits for nine months of the year Opens at 10:00 a.m. (Monday-Thursday) Fridays are used to discuss, debate, and write decisions Must be six judges which make up a quorum

12. Supreme Court at Work Types of Opinions Majority (5-4, 6-3, 7-2, 8-1, 9-0) Dissenting- one judge goes against and writes an opposing view point Concurring

13. Court of International Trade Nine judges appointed by the President Salary- $133,000 Courts are in San Francisco, New Orleans, Boston, New York

14. Court of Appeals Federal and Circuit courts 12 Judges appointed by the President Salary: $133,000

15. Special Courts- Set up by Congress U.S. Claims Court 16 Judges appointed by President Hears claims against the government Salary: $133,000 Territorial Courts (2 judges each court) 8 total Salary: $125,000 Courts located in Virgin Islands, Guam, Puerto Rico, North Mariana Islands

16. Special Courts-Set up by Congress Courts of District of Columbia Salary $133,000 Superior Courts and Court of Appeals Salary $133,000 Court of Military Appeals One Chief Justice and four associate justices serve for 15 years Salary: $133,000

17. Special Courts-Set up by Congress Courts of Veteran’s appeals One chief justice and six associates serve for 15 years Salary: $125,000 U.S. Tax Court One chief justice and 18 associate judges Hear civil not criminal cases Salary $133,000

18. Appointment of Judges, Terms, and Salary President appoints all federal judges Confirmed by the U.S. Senate Appointed for life unless otherwise designated Removal by impeachment Nine have been impeached four have been found guilty

19. Federal Court Officials Clerk- has custody of the federal seal Magistrates- issues warrants, sets bail, may try some cases U.S. Attorney- prosecutes the criminals U.S. Marshals- issues subpoenas and arrest warrants Baliff- keeps order in the court and calls cases

20. State Court System Organized from the lowest to highest court Justice of the Peace Found in small southern towns Usually elected to a 2-4 year term Hears very minor cases Marries people Pay is usually from fines collected (higher fine better pay) No formal qualifications

21. Magistrates Court Found mostly in large cities Elected to office for a 2-4 year term No formal qualifications, except some states require a law degree

22. Municipal Court night court in large cities Many divisions like criminal minor crimes: Civil, juvenile, small claims, traffic Appointed and must have a law degree

23. General Trial Court Judges may be elected or appointed Cases tried before a single judge Hear cases on estates, probates, and affairs of minors Circuit court are the trial courts of the states judges must have a law degree as well as a states attorney elected

24. Intermediate Appellate Court (State) level Called the states appellate court Judges may be elected or appointed Must have a law degree Reviews cases from lower courts and has final say so in most cases Mt. Vernon is the nearest state appellate court

25. State Supreme Court Located in Springfield 5-7 judges ½ are appointed by the Governor and the other half may be elected Their decisions are final Selection of judges at state levels Popular election, legislature selects, governor appoints

26. Juries Grand jury- hears evidence to decide if trial needs to be held Petit jury is the trial jury Bench trial- is done before a judge with no jury

27. Make up of a Jury and how it works Impaneling- jury is selected from a pool Presentment- accusations before the grand jury Indictment- formal charge by the grand jury

28. Make up of a Jury and how it works Jury selection list prepared by county official Usually taken from the poll book Today may be done from a drivers’ license Most jurors are notified by mail One must show up or be arrested d

29. Jury Selection May be excused if Suffering from an illness Is a criminal Is illiterate Some professionals Doctors Lawyers Policemen Firemen

30. Kinds of State Law Law- principle rules of conduct Constitutional Law- highest form of law in America Statutory Law- enacted by legislatures Administrative Law- rules issued on any level Criminal Law- defies public wrongs Civil Law- relates to human behavior Common Law- written laws or made by judges