UC Scout Federal Court System PDF

Cornell Notes - Digital Version (Editable Google Doc) Course Video # LAW140-023 Video 2.03 - The Federal Court System Name and Name Questions/Keywords...

Cornell Notes - Digital Version (Editable Google Doc) Course Video # LAW140-023 Video 2.03 - The Federal Court System Name and Name Questions/Keywords Notes Federal Trial and The United States Court system makes up the judicial branch. Appeals Courts Federal courts: Petitions for ➔ Hear cases that involve federal law Certiorari: Appeals ➔ Also hear civil cases with parties that are from different states filed to the Supreme disputing more than $75,000 Court At the Federal level the SCOTUS is the highest court established by Article III (U.S. Constitution). Article III also grants Congress the power to create lower courts. U.S. District Courts: ➔ 94 federal judicial districts ➔ Each district has a federal trial court (many others including bankruptcy courts) ➔ Federal district courts have jurisdiction over federal criminal cases Each of the 94 districts are placed into 12 regional circuits. Each circuit has a court of appeals to determine if judges applied laws correctly. The United States also has a court of appeals that is for the federal circuit. The federal circuit hears cases countrywide but only on specific issues. Federal Circuit: ➔ International trade ➔ Patent law ➔ Veterans issues ➔ Monetary claims against the federal government Federal court judges are appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate. These justices are protected by the Constitution and can only be removed through impeachment. SCOTUS is made up of 9 justices - interpret the Constitution and establish legal precedents. Cases are decided by majority rule. Decisions must be respected and followed by all courts in the United States. Brown v. Board of Education (1954): ➔ Eliminated racial segregation in public schools Thousands of petitions for certiorari are filed each year, the SCOTUS has discretion on which cases they will hear. Approx. 80 cases per This content is protected and may not be shared, uploaded, or distributed. Cornell Notes - Digital Version (Editable Google Doc) year. PC is usually granted when decisions cannot be agreed upon in lower courts that pertain to important national policies. Losing party either at the federal appellate level or state supreme court is the one to appeal to SCOTUS. The losing party sends a written request on why their case should be heard. The winning party would need to submit a written argument as to why the case should not be heard. 4/9 justices need to agree to grant the petition. Once accepted both parties write briefs arguing how the case should be decided. Each side is then given a 30 minute oral argument to present their case. Justices then meet privately to discuss the case and begin drafting their opinions. Both state and federal courts can submit PC, but SCOTUS prefers federal cases. 75% Federal, 25% State. Often lower court decisions are reversed by SCOTUS. Once a case is decided the court releases their opinions to the public. SCOTUS makes decisions on controversial/significant issues such as civil rights and abortion. SCOTUS justices are appointed for life. Summary We learned about the federal court system in the United States. We learned about federal courts’ structure and jurisdictions. This content is protected and may not be shared, uploaded, or distributed.