1. Interpretation of laws
Judicial Branch
Interpretation of laws

2. District Courts
Lowest level of the federal court system. This is where most lawsuits begin.
Original jurisdiction: Authority to hear cases for the first time.
Only courts with jury trials.
Each state has at least one district court.
90% of all court cases are in district courts.

3. Court Officials
Judges: Decide procedure and punishment. Appointed by the president and approved by the Senate. They earn $162,100. No political pressure because they can not be removed without reason.
Magistrate: Issue court orders and take care of pre-trial matters. Appointed for eight years by federal judges. They earn $149,132.
US Attorney: Prove that a suspect is guilty.
Marshal: Arrest suspects, brings defendants to court, and serves subpoenas.
Subpoena: Order requiring a person to appear in court.

4. Court of Appeals
Appellate jurisdiction: Hear only cases that have been appealed from district courts.
Circuit: Geographic area an appeals court has jurisdiction in.
There are twelve judicial circuits.

5. Circuit court judges
Each appeals court has from 6-27 judges. They earn $171,800 a year.
A panel of at least three judges will hear each case.
The court may:
1. Uphold the earlier ruling.
2. Overturn the decision.
3. Remand the case to a lower court for a new ruling.
Some cases will be appealed to the Supreme Court.

6. Supreme Court
Original jurisdiction involving diplomats from foreign countries or when more than one state is involved.
Appellate jurisdiction on everything else.
Normally hear cases that involve constitutional questions or are of public interest.
Decisions can not be appealed.

7. Supreme Court Justices
There are nine justices (1 chief and 8 associate).
Associate justices receive $199,200 and the Chief justice receives $208,100.
1967, Thurgood Marshall became the first African-American justice.
1981, Sandra Day O’Connor became the first female justice.

8. The Supreme Court Justices
The Justices are (front row from left) Clarence Thomas, Antonin Scalia, John G. Roberts (Chief Justice), Anthony Kennedy, Ruth Bader Ginsburg; (back row from left) Sonia Sotomayor, Stephen Breyer, Sameul Alito and Elena Kagan.

9. Chief Justice John Roberts
Appointed by George W. Bush
Senate Confirmation:
September 29, 2005– present
DOB: January 27, 1955

10. Justice Anthony Kennedy
Appointed by Ronald Reagan
Senate Confirmation: 97-0
February 18, 1988– present
DOB: July 23, 1936

11. Justice Clarence Thomas
Appointed by George H. W. Bush
Senate Confirmation:
October 23, 1991– present
DOB: June 23, 1948

12. Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg
Appointed by Bill Clinton
Senate Confirmation: 96-3
August 10, 1993– present
DOB: March 15, 1933

13. Justice Steven Breyer Appointed by Bill Clinton
Senate Confirmation: 87-9
August 3, 1994– present
DOB: August 15, 1938

14. Justice Samuel Alito Appointed by George W. Bush
Senate Confirmation:
January 31, 2006– present
DOB: April 1, 1950

15. Justice Sonia Sotomayor
Appointed by Barack Obama
Senate Confirmation:
August 8, 2009– present
DOB: June 25, 1954

16. Justice Elena Kagan Appointed by Barack Obama
Senate Confirmation:
August 7, Present
DOB: April 28, 1960

17. Justice Neil Gorsuch Appointed by Donald Trump
Senate Confirmation:
April 7, Present
DOB: August 29, 1967

18. Supreme Court Schedule
First two weeks of the month, they hear arguments, discuss cases, and vote. They have a two week recess where they decide what cases to hear and write opinions on other cases. They read briefs, arguments written by attorneys.
Four out of nine justices must want to hear a case. It is then placed on the docket, calendar.
The case must have two adversaries, opposing sides.

19. Cases in the Supreme Court
Almost all cases reach the Supreme Court on appeal.
Writ of Certiorari: Directs a lower court to send records for review.
Lower courts sometimes ask the Supreme Court to make a ruling.

20. Decisions and Opinions
Must have a majority vote to decide. (At least 6 judges must vote).
If there is a tie, the lower court ruling is upheld.
Majority opinion: Written by a justice that voted with the majority.
Dissenting opinion: Written by those who oppose the majority.
Concurring opinion: Written by a justice that agrees with the majority but may have different reasons.

21. Marbury vs. Madison
Midnight judges: John Adams appointed several judges on his last night as President.
James Madison became Jefferson’s Secretary of State and was instructed to withhold the commissions.
William Marbury took the case to the Supreme Court as a provision of the Judiciary Act of 1789.

22. Marbury vs. Madison principles
1. Constitution is the Supreme law of the land.
2. In cases of conflict between the constitution and any other document, the constitution must be followed.
3. Judicial branch must uphold the constitution and nullify all unconstitutional laws.
This case established judicial review.