Judicial Branch Background Notes

Courts Federal court system was established by Article III of the Constitution Established a Supreme Court 2 separate court systems in the US National system of courts States have their own systems that hear most of the cases in the US.

Types of Courts Congress has created two types of federal courts Constitutional courts, including the Supreme Court, courts of appeals, the district courts and the Court of International Trade. Special or legislative courts are created by congress to hear only a limited range of specialized cases. Federal courts hear cases that deal with the interpretation and application of provisions of the Constitution or of any federal state or treaty. They also hear cases that arise on the high seas or in the navigable waters of the US.

Types of Jurisdiction All cases that do not fall under the jurisdiction of the federal courts are within the jurisdiction of the state courts. Some have concurrent jurisdiction Some have exclusive jurisdiction, federal courts only Appellate courts to which a case is appealed from a lower court is said to have appellate jurisdiction.

Judges and Court Officials Federal judges are appointed for life and may be removed only through the impeachment process. Presidents almost always nominate persons from their own political party who share their philosophy of government. Each district court has many officials who assist the district judge, these include Clerks, bailiffs, stenographers, federal marshals, US attorneys etc.

2009 Supreme Court

Confirmation of Justices Thomas and Sotomayor