The United States Court System

Dual Court System Separate Judicial Court System for each state and a separate federal system –Federal Courts –State and Local Courts

Federal Courts Established by the U.S. Constitution Jurisdiction is limited –U.S. Constitutional law –U.S. Federal law Bankruptcy Copyrights Patents

State Courts Established by the individual states Include state and local courts Jurisdiction is broad –Cases citizens are involved in Criminal violations Traffic violations Broken contracts Family disputes

United States Supreme Court Courts of Limited Jurisdiction Courts of General Jurisdiction Intermediate Courts Of Appeals Appellate Court Of Last Resort U.S. District Courts U.S. Circuit Courts Of Appeals Dual Court System

Jurisdiction: The courts authority to hear and decide cases Original jurisdiction –Authority to hear a case when it is first brought to court Appellate jurisdiction –Authority to review a case for errors of law General jurisdiction –Authority to hear any type of case What’s the difference??

Federal Court System Authority Established by the U.S. Constitution (Article III) U.S. District Courts U.S. Circuit Courts of Appeal U.S. Supreme Court

United States Supreme Court U.S. Court Of Appeals 12 Circuits U.S. Court Of Appeals Federal Circuit U.S. Court Of Military Appeals 95 U.S. District Courts United States Tax Court U.S. Courts of International Trade United States Claims Courts U.S. Courts of Veterans Appeals Armed Services Courts of Military Review

U.S. District Courts Trial courts of the Federal Government Court of original jurisdiction Violations of federal crime and civil law –First adjudicated –Decisions of facts are made –13 circuits throughout the United States 94 federal district courts

U.S. District Courts Jurisdiction Federal laws Treaties with foreign nations Interpretations of the U.S. Constitution

U.S. District Courts Presided over by a district court judge –Appointed by the President –Confirmed by the Senate –Serve on the bench for life May resign May be impeached and convicted by Congress

U.S. District Courts U.S. District Courts in Georgia Georgia Northern District Court –Atlanta--Gainesville--Newnan--Rome Georgia Middle District Court –Macon--Albany--Athens--Columbus--Valdosta Georgia Southern District Court –Savannah--Augusta--Brunswick

U.S. District Courts (Georgia) Georgia Northern District Court Atlanta Atlanta Georgia Northern District Court Gainesville Gainesville Georgia Northern District Court Newnan Newnan Georgia Northern District Court RomeRome Georgia Middle District Court Macon Macon Georgia Middle District Court Albany Albany Georgia Middle District Court Athens Athens Georgia Middle District Court Columbus Columbus Georgia Middle District Court ValdostaValdosta Georgia Southern District Court Savannah Savannah Georgia Southern District Court Augusta Augusta Georgia Southern District Court BrunswickBrunswick

U.S. Courts of Appeal Court of Appeals –Hears appeals of verdicts from U. S. District Courts –Created in 1891 To reduce load on the U.S. Supreme Court –Primary role is to ensure trial court correctly interpreted and applied the law –Cannot refuse to hear a case 13-U.S. Circuit courts of appeals –11 Districts –District of Columbia –Federal District Atlanta –11th District Court of Appeals

U.S. Courts of Appeal Hears appeals from the U.S. District Courts Created in 1891 –Reduce the burden on the U.S. Supreme Court Appellate Jurisdiction ONLY –Reviews cases for errors of law…not fact. –Appeal to the court is a matter of right!! Cannot refuse to hear an appeal Primary role is to ensure trial court correctly interpreted and applied the law

U.S. Courts of Appeal 13 U.S. Circuit Courts of Appeals –11 Districts –District of Columbia –Federal District Atlanta –11th District Court of Appeals

U.S. Circuit/District Court Map 1st Circuit1st Circuit · 2nd Circuit · 3rd Circuit · 4th Circuit · 5th Circuit · 6th Circuit · 7th Circuit · 8th Circuit · 9th Circuit · 10th Circuit · 11th Circuit · DC Circuit · Federal Circuit2nd Circuit3rd Circuit4th Circuit5th Circuit6th Circuit7th Circuit 8th Circuit9th Circuit10th Circuit11th CircuitDC CircuitFederal Circuit

U.S. Court of Appeals 11 th Circuit Jurisdiction Federal cases originating in Alabama Florida Georgia

U.S. Supreme Court Has original jurisdiction in limited cases –State v. State issues Primary task is to hear appeals from the U.S. courts of appeal

U.S. Supreme Court Nine Justices –One Chief Justice –Eight Associate Justices Appointed by the President Congressional Approval –Tenure is for life –Good Behavior

U.S. Supreme Court Current Court (7) Men (2) Women(1) African American(1) Hispanic Chief Justice-John Roberts Associate Justices John Paul StevensAntonin ScaliaSteven Breyer Anthony KennedyClarence ThomasSamuel Alito Ruth Bader GinsburgSonia Sotomayor

U.S. Supreme Court Four Justices must vote to hear a case Writ of certiorari A written order from the U.S. Supreme Court To a lower court whose decision is being appealed Send the records of the case for review Only if… Defendant has exhausted all other avenues of appeal Case involves a “substantial federal question” An alleged violation of either the U.S. Constitution or Federal Law

U.S. Supreme Court Decision –Affirm the decision of the lower court Agree with Let it stand –Reverse the decision of the lower court Remand the decision Return the case to the court of original jurisdiction