1. US COURT SYSTEM

2. Why are their two court systems?
Federalism
Sharing of powers between federal and state gov’t
Federal/State sovereignty
Federal Powers – Enumerated Powers (i.e. Art. 1 Sect. 8)
State Powers – Reserved Powers
Separate Courts
Interpret and apply their laws, spelling out respective jurisdiction

3. Federal Court Structure
Article III Courts
US District Courts, US Circuit Courts of Appeal, SCOTUS, US Claims, International Trade
Judges: appointed by president and confirmed by Senate
Article I (Legislative) Courts
Magistrate, Bankruptcy, Military Appeals, US Tax, Veteran’s Appeals

4. Federal Court System SUPREME COURT OF THE US US COURT OF APPEALS
BANKRUPTCY APPELLATTE PANNELS
US BANKRUPTCY COURTS
US DISTRICT CURCUITS
US TAX COURT
US COURT OF APPEALS FOR FED CURCUIT
US COURT OF INTERNATIONAL TRADE
US COURT OF FEDERAL CLAIMS
US COURT OF VETERAN APPEALS
US COURT OF APPEALS FOR ARMED FORCES
COURTS OF CRIMINAL APPEALS
COURTS MARTIAL

5. Federal Courts US District Courts US Circuit Court of Appeals SCOTUS
Trial courts with original jurisdiction
US Circuit Court of Appeals
12 courts, 11 regions
Appellate courts with limited jurisdiction
Examines appeals for mistakes of law not facts
SCOTUS
9 justices (1 Chief Justice)
Appellate court with limited jurisdiction (most cases)
Original jurisdiction cases involving ambassadors and multiple states
Petitions for certiorari – request from lower court to SCOTUS

7. Federal Judicial Circuits

8. PA Courts Base Level Common Pleas Superior Court Limited jurisdiction
Bails, traffic, non-jury civil/criminal cases
Common Pleas
All major civil/criminal cases, children/family cases, appeals from limited jurisdiction courts
Superior Court
Criminal appeals, most civil appeals, family/children appeals

9. PA Court System Commonwealth Court Supreme Court
Original jurisdiction on civil case brought by/against the commonwealth, appeals involving commonwealth agencies
Supreme Court
Highest court, appeals on death penalty, administrative authority on entire court system

10. SUPERIOR COURT OR COMMONWEALTH COURT
PA Court Structure
SUPREME COURT
SUPERIOR COURT OR COMMONWEALTH COURT
COMMON PLEAS
MUNICIPAL COURT
DISTRICT JUSTICE
TRAFFIC COURT
MAGISTRATES

11. Federal Jurisdiction Diversity of Citizenship Federal Question
Civil cases between residents of two states and amount in question exceeds amount set by law (currently $75,000)
Federal Question
Suits between states, ambassador, federal crimes, bankruptcy, copyright/patent, admiralty, antitrust, securities/banking regulations, other cases by federal statute (i.e. civil rights, labor relations, environmental)

12. State Jurisdiction Cases involving:
State constitution, state criminal, tort/personal injury, contract, probate, family, sale of goods, corporations/organizations, elections, municipal/zoning, traffic, real property

13. Concurrent Jurisdiction
Diversity of Citizenship
Defendant does not petition to a federal court the civil case exceeding $75,000 can be heard in state court
Federal Question
Any state may interpret the US Constitution/federal law/treaty, if it has direct bearing on the case brought to the state court. However, interpretation is subject to federal court .review

14. Federal v. State Jurisdiction
A state sues a neighboring state for dumping waste in a river that borders both states.
A wife sues her husband for divorce.
A person is prosecuted for assaulting a neighbor.
Two cars collide. One driver sues the other for hospital bills and auto repairs.
A group of parents sues the local school board, asking that their children's school be desegregated.

15. Jurisdiction Answers Federal Court (case between two states
State Court
State Court (if more than $75,000 and from different states – Federal Court)
Federal Court (involves SCOTUS decision)