The Role of Federal Courts Chapter 10 Section 1

Key Terms Plaintiff Defendant Prosecution Precedent Original Jurisdiction Appeal Appellate Jurisdiction

Laws and Courts Dispute involving law are resolved in the legal system What they do Was something done on purpose What law was broken Guilty or innocent? How should the person be punished If serious decided through the legal system

All courts do the same thing What courts do All courts do the same thing Apply law to actual situation Interpret law and decide how to apply them Criminal and Civil If Criminal decides guilt or innocence If Civil settles a dispute Broken contract, divorce, violation of rights Fedral court hears both civil and criminal

Parties in the conflict Civil Plaintiff- an individual or group who bring a complaint against another party. Defendant- the party who answers the complaint and defends against it D’Arcy v Upper Dublin Township Defendant could be an individual, group, or a governmental body

Name of the Defendant is last Criminal case is brought by When referencing a Civil Case the name of the Plaintiff is listed first Name of the Defendant is last Criminal case is brought by Prosecution- a government body that brings a criminal charge against a defendant who is accused of breaking on of its laws Prosecution is referred to the people

People of the State of Pennsylvania V D’Arcy When referencing a criminal case the defendant’s name is last

Members of the Court Judge applies the laws between parties Determines which side is more in keeping with the law Directs the proceedings Must remain neutral and not take a side Most legal cases involve a jury who decides the facts Trial by jury is a guaranteed Constitutional right

Interpreting the Laws Hearing a case Decide what law is in question Is the law allowed by the Constitution Process of interpretation Precedent- a guideline for how all similar cases should be decided in the future Makes the meaning of the Constitution clearer

State Courts and Federal Courts Decisions to establish the broadest precedents made in higher courts Each state has different court levels Traffic courts Juvenile courts Municipal courts (city level) Most of the everyday laws are state and local

Original jurisdiction- the authority to hear a case first Determines the facts of the case Usually a trial by jury Because the hold trials to resolve the case Courts with original jurisdictions are called trial courts

If plaintiff or defendant believe a decision is unjust Appeal- to ask a higher court to review the decision and determine if justice was done Each state has an appeals court hear lower case appeals Appellate Jurisdiction- the authority to hear an appeal

Appeals court does not hold trials Nor does it determine the facts of the case It reviews the legal issues involved Decides to affirm or let stand If it thought the court was unfair may reverse a lower court decision Can order another trial When plaintiff is innocent the prosecution can not appeal (Constitution prohibits double jeopardy)

Appeal process can go beyond first appeal Final court of appeals is the state Supreme Court State Courts have three levels Trial courts Appeals court Court of final appeals

Second They hear cases appealed from State Supreme Courts Cases heard by Federal Courts Cases involving federal law Issues beyond state authority Second They hear cases appealed from State Supreme Courts Must involve federal law Constitutional issue Supreme Court leadership in federal system