1. The Court System
Chapter 5

2. Purpose of Judicial Branch
Interpret Laws Passed by Congress
Assure Laws That are Passed are Constitutional
Established under Article III of Constitution
Congress given Authority to Establish all “Inferior” Federal Courts

3. Adversarial vs Inquistional
U.S. has a Adversarial legal system
Contest between opposing sides
Jury determines facts
Europe uses the inquisitional system
Judges serve as the jury

4. Organization of Federal Courts
Benton
East St. Louis
(General Trial Courts)

5. Federal Court Structure

6. CQ

7. Organization of State Courts
Illinois Supreme
Court
Appellate Courts
(Mt. Vernon)
Circuit Courts
(Trial Courts)

8. Jury Selections Screening Process Voir Dire Removal for Cause
Screen for impartiality
Removal for Cause
If attorney feels juror has some prejudice
Peremptory Challenges

9. What is “Judicial Review?”
Used to determine Constitutionality of all Laws!
Marbury vs Madison
Jurisdiction
Legal Authority of the Court

10. Qualifications for Federal Judges
There are None!
Selection
Term
Salary
Support Personnel

11. U.S. Supreme Court “Highest Court of the Land” Jurisdiction
Original
Appellate
9 Justices (Select a Chief Justice)
Terms/Salaries/ Qualifications

12. Information About the Supreme Court
9 Supreme Court Justices – life term
8,000 cases are referred to the court, hear about 80 a year
Must have a writ of certiori for the court to consider case (99% denied!)
1st Monday in October – end of June
Most cases come from Federal courts

13. Supreme Court (cont.)
After a case is heard, court makes a decision – 3 options:
1. Majority Opinion
2. Dissenting Opinion
3. Concurring Opinion
Final decision results in a Precedent, which all other lower courts must follow!
Homework-problem 5.4 (pg. 58) Gideon vs Wainwright