Court Structure
“Dual” Court System
Court Structure “Dual” Court System
Court Structure “Dual” Court System
Court Structure Three-tiered system
Court Structure Three-tiered system
Court Structure Three-tiered system
Court Structure Courts of Original Jurisdiction Courts of Appellate Jurisdiction Supreme Courts
Court Structure Courts of Original Jurisdiction
Court Structure
Courts of Original Jurisdiction: Facts Guilt or innocence (criminal case) For the plaintiff or defendant (civil case)
Court Structure Courts of Appellate Jurisdiction: fairness law fundamental rights
Court Structure
Each state has its own court system
Court Structure 98% of all cases are heard in state courts
Court Structure
Article III SECTION 1 The judicial Power of the United States, shall be vested in one supreme Court, and in such inferior Courts as the Congress may from time to time ordain and establish.
Court Structure “Constitutional” courts
Court Structure
“Constitutional” courts
Court Structure
2007 – SCOTUS renders 71 full opinions 64 cases from lower federal courts 7 cases from state courts 0 cases of original jurisdiction
Court Structure Miscellaneous Notes I.Adversarial System II.Litigants A.Prosecutor v. defendant (criminal case) B.Plaintiff v. defendant (civil case) C.Standing to sue D.Class action E.Justiciable dispute
Court Structure Miscellaneous Notes III.Jurisdiction – the authority to hear a case A.Timing 1.original 2.appellate B.Subject C.Parties D.Exclusive E.Concurrent