THE CONSTITUTION ARTICLE III : THE JUDICIAL BRANCH
THE JUDICIAL BRANCH The main job of the judicial branch of the United States is to INTERPRET laws
Each state has its own judicial system that hears nonfederal cases. The exact composition of these judicial systems varies from state to state but generally includes the follow three levels: Trial courts, which are the first courts to hear a case. Often, states will establish specialized trial courts to hear cases related to a certain subject matter, such as probate courts to hear matters related to will and estates, and family courts to hear matters related to divorce and child custody. Courts of appeal, which review the judgments of the trial courts A state supreme court, which is the highest appellate court in the state. Decisions of a state's supreme court can be appealed to a federal court of appeals and, ultimately, the United States Supreme Court if they involve federal law.
ORIGINAL JURISDICTION
The court you are assigned to first Charged w/ breaking a state law? State Trial Court Charged w/ breaking a federal law? U.S. District Court
ORIGINAL JURISDICTION A court’s power to hear and decide a case before any appellate review. Trial court must necessarily have original jurisdiction over the types of cases it hears.
ORIGINAL JURISDICTION OF SCOTUS Mainly an appellate court BUT… Article 3, Section 2: Supreme Court has original jurisdiction in cases involving… Foreign public ministers, consuls, ambassadors Two different states 1997: SCOTUS had original jurisdiction in dispute between NY and NJ over whether Liberty Island, home of the statue of Liberty, is part of NY or NJ
FEDERAL COURTS Hear criminal and civil cases involving federal law Hear ~300,000 cases per year Federal trial court “U.S. District Court” Federal appellate court “U.S. Circuit Courts of Appeal”
APPELLATE JURISDICTION An appellate court is the court that hears a case when a verdict is appealed
APPELLATE JURISDICTION OF SCOTUS SCOTUS has appellate jurisdiction over… All state Supreme Courts All 13 federal Courts of Appeal
SUPREME COURT Federal judges called “judges” A judge on the Supreme Court called “Justice” Federal judges appointed by president Approved by Senate Federal judges, including SCOTUS Justices, serve for LIFE unless… They resign or are dismissed for bad behavior Why?
GRAND JURY members Not a trial jury (petit jury) Grand jury does not decide innocence or guilt Only decides if there is enough evidence to CHARGE a suspect w/ a crime “Hand down an indictment”
IMPEACHMENT Impeach: to charge the president w/ high crimes or misdemeanors House impeaches Senate holds trial, convicts Chief Justice of SCOTUS oversees impeachment trials in Senate