US Court System: Structure and Law Sources

Court Structure and Sources of Law

• The US court system has various levels and different jurisdictions.
• Trial courts are responsible for fact-finding, determining guilt or innocence, and imposing sanctions.
• Appellate courts review decisions from lower courts, correcting errors.

U.S. Court System

• Federal Courts hear cases involving U.S. Constitution violations, federal laws, and cases between two states.
• Federal Judges are appointed for life.
• The current federal court system includes:
  • U.S. District Courts: Federal trial courts prosecuting federal crimes violating the U.S. Constitution or federal statutes (94 U.S. District Courts).
  • U.S. Court of Appeals: 13 Courts of Appeals, panels of three judges that affirm, reverse, or modify lower court decisions. In special cases, all or a substantial number of judges may hear a case.
  • U.S. Supreme Court: Final arbiter in the U.S. system, hearing federal cases and significant state cases. The Court resolves disputes between states and lower federal/state courts, resolves constitutional questions through judicial review, and influences all manner of governmental and social issues. It has nine justices appointed for life.

Case Docket of the U.S. Supreme Court

• Discretionary review: The Supreme Court chooses which cases to hear, approximately 100 a year.
• Refusing to hear a case doesn't indicate support for either party.

How to Read Supreme Court Cases

• Start with the syllabus, which summarizes the case's facts, issues, and decision.
• Oyez.org provides good summaries.
• Identify concurring (judges agree with result but differ on reasons) and dissenting opinions (disagreement with the main opinion).

Typical Structure of the Main Opinion

• A main opinion typically includes:
  • Summary of legal disputes
  • Summary of the case's facts
  • Arguments and reasoning (comments on dissenting opinions)
  • Disposition (Affirm, Reverse, Void, Vacate, Remand)
• Skip footnotes initially; focus on the overall takeaway.

A Typical State Court Structure

• A typical state court system includes courts of limited jurisdiction, courts of general jurisdiction, intermediate appellate courts, and the state supreme court.

New Jersey Court Structure

• The New Jersey court system includes the Supreme Court, Appellate Division of Superior Courts, Superior Courts, and Municipal Courts.

Courts of Limited Jurisdiction

• These courts have various names (municipal, magistrate's, etc.).
• They hear minor cases like minor criminal cases, traffic violations, and civil disputes below a certain dollar value.
• Preliminary stages of felony cases are often handled here; these are typically informal proceedings without a jury.

Courts of General Jurisdiction

• These courts include superior courts, district courts, and circuit courts.
• They hear cases not specifically designated for courts of limited jurisdiction (like felony cases).
• They also hear appeals from lower courts.

Intermediate Appellate Courts

• Hear appeals from trial courts.
• They have mandatory jurisdiction, meaning they must hear all properly filed appeals.

State Supreme Courts

• They are the final courts for state cases.
• They often have discretionary jurisdiction, choosing which cases they hear. Death penalty and significant legal issues are common.
• In states without intermediate appellate courts, the state supreme courts hear all appeals.

Specialized Courts

• Specialized courts handle specific issues (juvenile delinquency, drug courts, DUI/DWI, mental health, veterans, recovery, etc.).

Sources of Law

• Statutes (laws created by legislatures), including:
  • U.S. Constitution
  • State Constitutions
  • Federal and state laws
  • Local ordinances
• Executive rules and decisions (Administrative law), including agency laws, presidential/governor orders, administrative regulations
• Common Law: Laws based on judicial opinions; formed from precedents
• Examples of common law cases.

American Legal System

• Rooted in common law, different from Roman/Civil law codes.
• Stare Decisis: Deciding cases based on existing precedents.
• Every final court decision becomes a precedent, binding on the court issuing the decision and lower courts.

Overruling Precedents

• Judges can choose not to follow outdated precedents.
• If facts are different from the original precedent, judges may not follow them.
• Outdated precedents can be overruled.
• Overruling a prior decision requires critical analysis of its appropriateness.

Overruling Considerations

• Is the prior decision significantly or egregiously wrong?
• Has the prior decision caused significant negative jurisprudential or real-world consequences?
• Would overruling the prior decision unduly upset reliance interests?

Civil vs. Criminal Cases

• Different types of wrongs:
  • Criminal violations: impact state and social interests.
  • Civil wrongs: disputes between private parties (state less involved).
  • Overlap between civil and criminal.
• Different procedures:
  • Criminal trials: "beyond a reasonable doubt."
  • Civil trials: "preponderance of evidence."
  • Different levels of procedural protection for the accused in criminal cases.

Explanation of the US court system's structure, including trial and appellate courts. Overview of the federal court system, with the U.S. District Courts, Court of Appeals, and Supreme Court. Focuses on the roles and responsibilities within the legal framework.