Chapter 11 Section 2

Constitutional Courts –Article III Federal district courts, federal courts of appeals, and U.S. court of International Trade U.S. has 94 districts with each state having at least one district court 550 judges preside over the district courts

Constitutional Courts District courts use 2 types of juries in criminal cases –Grand jury –Petit Indictment

Constitutional Courts District courts hear hundreds of thousands of cases each year---More than 80% of all federal cases District courts have jurisdiction to hear cases involving –Issues of federal statutory or constitutional law –Some cases involving citizens of different issues

Constitutional Courts Each district court has a U.S. Attorney, U.S. magistrate, bankruptcy judge, and U.S. marshal U.S. Court of Appeals (1891) –Today includes 13, U.S. divided into 12 judicial courts with 1 appellate court in each circuit –The 13 th court is a special appeals court with national jurisdiction –usually 3 judges sit on each panel

Constitutional Courts Most appeals come from decisions of district courts, U.S. Tax Court, and various territorial courts Court of Appeals may decide on appeal in 3 ways –Uphold original jurisdiction –Reverse that decision –Send back to lower court to be tried again Unless appealed to the Supreme Court, decisions of the courts of appeals are final

Legislative Courts Courts of International Trade –Jurisdiction over cases dealing with tariffs Legislative Courts –U.S. Court of Federal Claims (1982)-handles claims against the U.S. for money damages –U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces (1950)-hears cases involving members of the armed forces convicted of breaking military law –Territorial Courts-Virgin Islands, Guam, N. Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico-handle civil and criminal cases, along with constitutional cases –Courts of the District of Columbia—civil and criminal cases with District of Columbia

Legislative Courts Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court (1978) – authorized to secretly wiretap people suspected of spying against the U.S. Patriot Act(2001)- –Congress gave the court a 4 year authorization to approve wiretaps and searches of anyone suspected of terrorism

Legislative Courts Federal judges serve life terms Presidents favor judges who belong to their own political party Congress can increase the number of judgeships Senatorial Courtesy