1. Bell Work
Get out your notes Answer the following in your notes: What do you know about the Federal Court System?

2. Overview of the US Federal Courts

3. Origin
Article III of the US Constitution established the Judicial Branch, one of the 3 separate and distinct branches of the Federal government

4. Origin
The Constitution promotes “Judicial Independence” through:
Life Appointments
Removal From office only through Impeachment
Salary of federal judges can not be reduced during their term of office

5. Appointment of Judges
Federal judges are appointed by the President with the “Advice and Consent of the Senate”

6. Structure of the Federal Judiciary
Supreme Court
The highest court in both the Federal and State system.
Hears a limited number of cases, which generally involve important questions about the Constitution or federal law

7. Structure of the Federal Judiciary
Circuit Court of Appeals
There are 12 Regional Circuits (and also the Federal Circuit)
Most appeal cases heard by panels of 3 judges
When the case is heard by the entire appeals court, all the judges deliberate, which is referred to as “en banc”

8. Structure of the Federal Judiciary
District Court
There are 94 judicial districts in the US
Approximately 1,500 federal court judges
AZ is one judicial district with federal courts in Phoenix and Tucson

9. Jurisdiction
Federal courts are courts of “limited jurisdiction” which means they are authorized to hear only certain types of cases

10. Jurisdiction
Constitutional Issues Controversies between states Controversies between the US and foreign nations Federal Criminal Laws Federal Civil Laws Lawsuits between citizens of different states

11. Marbury v. madison (1803)
Established Judicial Review Judicial Review is the process of declaring laws or actions unconstitutional