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Supreme and Federal Courts: An Introduction

Supreme and Federal Courts: An Introduction. 18.1-18.3. What are the Federal courts?. 3 Levels of Federal Courts : Lower Federal Courts (everyone)(94 total) Court of Appeals (don’t like decision of lower)(12 total) Supreme Court (unlikely)(1 total). Federal Court Powers.

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Supreme and Federal Courts: An Introduction

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  1. Supreme and Federal Courts: An Introduction 18.1-18.3

  2. What are the Federal courts? • 3 Levels of Federal Courts: • Lower Federal Courts (everyone)(94 total) • Court of Appeals (don’t like decision of lower)(12 total) • Supreme Court (unlikely)(1 total)

  3. Federal Court Powers • Hear and try all federal cases

  4. What are typical federal cases? • Cases involving interpretation of Constitution or other federal documents • Many maritime (U.S. waterways) issues • Ex.) water accidents at sea, trade issues at various docks

  5. Parties involved in federal cases • U.S. as a country or any officials/officers • Representatives of foreign governments • States suing other states • Citizen of one state suing a citizen of another state • U.S. citizen suing a foreign government • Citizens from the state suing each other over land in another state

  6. Plaintiff v. defendant • Plaintiff: the person who files suit or brings up charges • Defendant: the person whom the complaint is against

  7. Civil v. criminal Suit • Civil: disputes over land, property, etc. usually involving money • Criminal: breaking of laws like robbery, rape, murder

  8. Appointment of Federal Judges • Nominated by President; approved by Senate • Federal judges usually chosen by Senator or high ranking attorneys who initially recommend them to the President

  9. Supposed to be neutral; just interpret law • Judges are not supposed to be bias, or use personal viewpoints when deciding verdicts • Judicial Activism: • This is bad • Biases political viewpoints not following Constitution • Judicial Restraint: • This is good • Neutral • Judge according to what is fair according to Constitution

  10. Terms • Lifetime • Special courts have 15-year terms • Nice retirement package

  11. Duties • Hear the cases and hand down verdicts • Magistrates do all the other things (issue warrants, bail, even try minor cases themselves)

  12. Appeals Court Judges • These judges usually cover 3-5 states with 12-15 judges • One Supreme Court Justice also monitors each

  13. Supreme court • 9 judges total (Chief Justice and 8 associate justices) • Appointed by President; approved by Senate • No specific age or qualifications, but law degree is basically assumed • Lifetime term until they decide to retire, step down, or die in office

  14. Judicial Review • Supreme Court judges decide if laws passed are constitutional • Also hear cases after appeals court, but sometimes can hear case right from lower court

  15. Hear very small amount of cases a year • 8,000 are appealed to Supreme Court, but they may only hear about 100 at most • They takes cases where at least 4 judges agree to hear the case (“Rule of Four”)

  16. How Supreme court operates • Lawyers for each side get up to 30 minutes to present their case; NO WITNESSES • 9 judges then conference to make decision • Majority opinion usually summarizes their reason for verdict • Someone from majority opinion will also do same

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