210 likes | 458 Views
THE UNITED STATES COURT SYSTEM. Texas Court of Appeals. United States Court Structure. Left Side. Right Side. U. S. Supreme Court. Texas Court of Criminal Appeals. Texas Supreme Court. U. S. Circuit Courts. District Court. U. S. District Courts. City & County Courts.
E N D
THE UNITED STATES COURT SYSTEM
Texas Court of Appeals United States Court Structure Left Side Right Side U. S. Supreme Court Texas Court of Criminal Appeals Texas Supreme Court U. S. Circuit Courts District Court U. S. District Courts City & County Courts
FEDERAL JUDGE QUALIFICATIONS APPOINTED BY THE PRESIDENT CONFIRMED BY THE SENATE NO FORMAL QUALIFICATIONS “shall hold office during good behavior” MAY BE IMPEACHED LIFE TIME APPOINTMENT
JURISDICTION: power of the court to hear case ORIGINAL : hear the case first or trial court APPELLATE : hear case after first time PETIT JURIES: 6 instead of 12 jurors BENCH TRIAL: judge only no jurors
U.S. District Courts CREATED IN 1789 BY AN ACT OF CONGRESS Not mentioned in the Constitution. ORIGINAL JURISDICTION OR TRIAL COURT - 99% OF CASES HEARD APPELLATE JURISDICTION FEDERAL TRIAL COURTS 1 – 27 JUDGES PER COURT DEPENDING ON THE DOCKET LOAD 95% OF THE CASES END HERE USE PETIT JURIES LOCAL FEDERAL DISTRICT COURTS SHERMAN, TYLER, AND PLANO FOR THE BANKRUPTCY COURT
Circuit CourtsU.S. Courts of Appeal APPELLATE JURISDICTION ONLY 12 CIRCUITS 6 – 28 JUDGES PER COURT CREATED BY CONGRESS IN 1891 NO GUILT OR INNOCENCE ONLY QUESTIONS OF LAW DECISION OPTIONS: REVERSE, UPHOLD, SEND BACK FOR A NEW TRIAL
5th Circuit Court New Orleans
U.S. Supreme CourtOnly court mentioned by name in the Constitution. JURISDICTION: ORIGINAL: SMALL % OF CASELOAD AMBASSADORS INVOLVEMENT PARTIES INCLUDE A STATE APPELLATE: WRIT OF CERT REQUIRED 99% OF CASELOAD OVER 7,000 FILED PER YEAR AND ONLY 75 ACTUALLY HEARD BY THE COURT 9 JUSTICES FINAL AUTHORITY ON THE CONSTITUTION!!!
THE ROBERTS COURT JUSTICE ALITO JUSTICE SOTOMAYOR JUSTICE BREYER JUSTICE GINSBERG JUSTICE KENNEDY JUSTICE SCALIA CHIEF JUSTICE ROBERTS JUSTICE STEVENS JUSTICE THOMAS
“rule of four” Secret Conference Maintain National Supremacy Resolve Interstate Conflicts
State Courts handle all matters not subject to federal jurisdiction. NOTE: All judges are elected in Texas, except municipal judges. CITY & COUNTY COURTS CIVIL AND CRIMINAL CASES CITY: 1. MUNICIPAL 2. TRAFFIC COURT 3. MISDEMEANOR CRIMES COUNTY: 1. JUSTICES OF THE PEACE 2. PROBATE COURTS (WILLS) 3. JUVENILE COURT
TEXAS COURTS District Courts ORIGINAL JURISDICTION INVOLVING A TRIAL AND A JURY JURISDICTION: 1. CRIMINAL CASES 2. CIVIL CASES DEALING WITH MORE THAN $200 3. FAMILY AND JUVENILE COURT
TEXAS COURT OF APPEALS (14) APPELLATE JURISDICTION NO JURY TRIAL OR NEW EVIDENCE ADDRESSES ANY LEGAL PROBLEMS THAT MIGHT HAVE OCCURRED IN THE JURY TRIAL
TEXAS HIGH COURTS 9 JUSTICES 6 YEAR TERM TEXAS SUPREME COURT CIVIL CASES ONLY TEXAS COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS CRIMINAL CASES
TEXAS SUPREME COURT JUSTICE GREEN JUSTICE WAINWRIGHT JUSTICE JOHNSON JUSTICE WILLETT JUSTICE MEDINA JUSTICE GUZMAN CHIEF JUSTICE JEFFERSON JUSTICE HECHT JUSTICE O’NEILL
TEXAS HIGH COURTS 9 JUSTICES 6 YEAR TERM TEXAS SUPREME COURT CIVIL CASES ONLY TEXAS COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS CRIMINAL CASES
TEXAS COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS JUDGE KEASLER JUDGE HOLCOMB JUDGE HERVEY JUDGE COCHRAN PRESIDING JUDGE KELLER JUDGE WOMACK JUDGE MEYERS JUDGE PRICE JUDGE JOHNSON