JUDICIAL BRANCH OUR COURT SYSTEM FEDERAL COURTS ARIZONA COURTS U.S. District Courts U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals U.S. Supreme Court Types of Cases Heard Justice of The Peace and City Courts AZ Superior Court AZ Court of Appeals AZ Supreme Court Types of Cases Heard

U.S. DISTRICT COURTS How many courts? How many courts? Each State has at least 1 Dist. Ct. (94 Total in Country) Each State has at least 1 Dist. Ct. (94 Total in Country) All Federal cases must start here => determine facts All Federal cases must start here => determine facts AZ has 2 => 1 in Tucson, 1 in Phoenix AZ has 2 => 1 in Tucson, 1 in Phoenix How many Judges per court? How many Judges per court? 1 judge => Trial by Jury 1 judge => Trial by Jury Qualifications? => None Qualifications? => None Term? => Life Term? => Life How To Become? => Presidential Appt.; Senate Approves How To Become? => Presidential Appt.; Senate Approves HOME

U.S. CIRCUIT COURT OF APPEALS AKA Appellate Court, Federal Appeals Ct. AKA Appellate Court, Federal Appeals Ct. How many courts? => 12 Divisions How many courts? => 12 Divisions Court of Appeals Map Court of Appeals Map Court of Appeals Map Court of Appeals Map AZ is in 9 th Circuit AZ is in 9 th Circuit Review decisions made in lower courts (appellate jurisdiction) Review decisions made in lower courts (appellate jurisdiction) Appeal when law used incorrectly, wrong procedures used, new evidence turns up Appeal when law used incorrectly, wrong procedures used, new evidence turns up How many Judges per court? How many Judges per court? 3 judges work together => No Jury 3 judges work together => No Jury Qualifications? => None Qualifications? => None Term? => Life Term? => Life How To Become? => Presidential Appointment.; Senate Approves How To Become? => Presidential HOME Appointment.; Senate ApprovesHOME

U.S. COURT OF APPEALS, CNTD. How they make decisions? How they make decisions? Decision is not based on guilt but on whether fair trial was received Decision is not based on guilt but on whether fair trial was received One Judge writes opinion explaining decision One Judge writes opinion explaining decision Decision can uphold decision, reverse decision, or send case back (remand) Decision can uphold decision, reverse decision, or send case back (remand) HOME

U.S. SUPREME COURT How many courts? => How many courts? => How many Judges per court? How many Judges per court? Qualifications? => Qualifications? => Term? => Term? => How To Become? => How To Become? => HOME

U.S. SUPREME COURT Steps to making a decision – Every case that is heard in the Court goes through this process Steps to making a decision – Every case that is heard in the Court goes through this process Step 1 – Step 1 – Step 2 – Step 2 – Step 3 – Step 3 –

U.S. Supreme Court Step 4 – Step 4 – Step 5 – Step 5 –

AZ JUSTICE OF THE PEACE AND CITY COURTS How are they chosen? How are they chosen? Direct Election Direct Election Qualifications? => Registered Voter Qualifications? => Registered Voter Term? => 4 years Term? => 4 years HOME

AZ SUPERIOR COURT How many courts? => 9 How many courts? => 9 How many judges? How many judges? 1 judge => Trial by jury 1 judge => Trial by jury Qualifications? Qualifications? 5 yrs a lawyer 5 yrs a lawyer 30 yrs. old 30 yrs. old AZ Resident for 5 yrs AZ Resident for 5 yrs Term? => 4 yrs. Term? => 4 yrs. Selection => Gov. appts & merrit approval after 4 yrs. in Maricopa and Pima Counties Selection => Gov. appts & merrit approval after 4 yrs. in Maricopa and Pima Counties Direct Election in all other Counties Direct Election in all other Counties HOME

AZ COURT OF APPEALS How many Courts? => 2 divisions How many Courts? => 2 divisions How many judges? => 3 per division, work together to make decisions; No jury How many judges? => 3 per division, work together to make decisions; No jury Qualifications Qualifications 5 yrs. a lawyer 5 yrs. a lawyer 30 yrs. old 30 yrs. old AZ resident for 5 yrs. AZ resident for 5 yrs. Term? => 4 yrs. Term? => 4 yrs. Selection? => Gov. appts. w/merit approval after 4 yrs. Selection? => Gov. appts. w/merit approval after 4 yrs. HOME

AZ SUPREME COURT How many courts? => 1 How many courts? => 1 How many judges? => 5; no jury How many judges? => 5; no jury Qualifications? Qualifications? 10 yrs. Lawyer 10 yrs. Lawyer AZ resident for 10 yrs. AZ resident for 10 yrs. Term? => 6 yrs. Term? => 6 yrs. Selection? => Gov. Appts. w/ merit election after 4 yrs. Selection? => Gov. Appts. w/ merit election after 4 yrs. HOME

FEDERAL CASES Jurisdiction – a court’s authority to hear and decide cases Jurisdiction – a court’s authority to hear and decide cases Article III of Const. gives power over 8 kinds of cases to federal courts Article III of Const. gives power over 8 kinds of cases to federal courts 1. Cases involving Const. – Const. Right has been violated 2. Violation of Federal Laws – Kidnapping, tax evasion, counterfeiting 3. Controversies Between States – water rights between states 4. Disputes between parties from different states

FEDERAL CASES, CNTD. 5. Suits involving the Federal Government 6. Cases involving Foreign Gov. and Treaties 7. Cases based on Admiralty and Maritime Laws – accidents or crimes on the high seas 8. Cases involving U.S. Diplomats – Diplomat breaks a U.S. law while working in France HOME

STATE CASES Justice of the Peace – less serious crimes =>misdemeanors Justice of the Peace – less serious crimes =>misdemeanors Superior Courts – General Trial Court => felonies, robbery, drug trafficking, etc. Superior Courts – General Trial Court => felonies, robbery, drug trafficking, etc. Court of Appeals => Review decisions of trial courts Court of Appeals => Review decisions of trial courts

FEDERAL RELATIONSHIP WITH STATES Federal Courts have exclusive jurisdiction over the 8 cases Federal Courts have exclusive jurisdiction over the 8 cases Most court cases involve state law Most court cases involve state law Either court can try crimes that break both fed and state law Either court can try crimes that break both fed and state law HOME