1. The Federal Court System
7th Grade Civics
Miss Smith
*pgs

2. U.S. District Courts
The Constitution states “the judicial power of the U.S. shall be vested in one Supreme Court, and in such inferior [lower] courts as the Congress may from time to time… establish.”
Which Article in the Constitution can you find this?
Article III

3. U.S. District Courts There are 3 levels of federal courts
Each level has jurisdiction (extent of the court’s authority to hear and decide a case brought before it)
Two types of jurisdiction: original and appellate

4. U.S. Federal Districts
District courts- lowest level of federal courts in the U.S.
Ex: Trial courts, courts of original jurisdiction (authority to be the first courts in which cases are heard)
What is the purpose of the U.S. district courts?

5. U.S. Federal Districts
The only federal court where jury trials are held
Cannot hear appeals from other courts
These are the “local” federal courts with at least 1 in each state and D.C.
94 total
Why do you think all states have at least one federal district court? To make sure all U.S. citizens and residents have access to federal courts without having to travel too far

6. U.S. District Judges Judges don’t make laws. That job goes to who?
Judges apply the relevant law to the cases before them
The number of judges per court depend on the caseload of the court
Conduct civil and criminal trials with or without juries
If no jury, the judge decides who wins/loses and sets punishments

7. U.S. District Judges
Federal judges (except those in U.S. territories) are appointed for life
The president chooses them, Senate approves
Can be impeached by Congress
Neither Congress nor the pres. can lower a judge’s salary
All of this ensures judges aren’t punished for their decisions in cases
Who impeaches and who holds trials in Congress? The House and Senate respectively
What guarantees help ensure that federal judges are not punished or rewarded for their decisions in cases? They are appointed for life, and neither Congress nor the president can lower their salaries while they are in office.

8. U.S. Courts of Appeals
After a court case is lost, the losing party can appeal to the second level of the federal court system, or the court of appeals (C.o.A.)
These courts have appellate jurisdiction (power to review decisions made by lower courts)
There are 12 judicial circuits and each circuit has it’s own C.o.A.
Each C.o.A. has btwn 6-28 judges
The judge who has served the longest and is under 65 yrs old is the chief judge
What does appeal mean? See Equal Justice Under the Law notes “process of asking for a review of the court’s decision”
How are the U.S. courts of appeals different from the district courts?
How many U.S. courts of appeals exist, and how are they divided? 12; They are divided into circuits by region.
Why does the United States give different kinds of courts original jurisdiction and appellate jurisdiction? To make sure that appellate judges have not seen the case before and can review appeals fairly

9. U.S. Courts of Appeals C.o.A.s do not hold trials
A panel of at least 3 judges make a decision on the case
Judges examine records and hear from the lawyers
Judges only decide whether or not the original trial was fair, NOT who is guilty/innocent
Judges reach their decision by majority vote
Either they send the case back to trial or uphold the original decision
Why are cases sent to the court of appeals, and what are the possible results? To review decisions and make sure the person who appealed was granted full legal rights; a case can be sent back to district court for a new trial or the decision may be upheld

10. The U.S. Supreme Court The highest court of the land
Mainly an appeals court
Justices = Judges
The decisions of the justices cannot be appealed
Supreme Court has original jurisdiction in 3 types of cases:
Involving diplomats of other countries
Between states
Involving a state and the federal gov.
What is the main function of the Supreme Court? To act as an appeals court
In what kinds of cases does the Supreme Court have original jurisdiction? In cases that involve diplomatic representatives of other countries, cases between states, and cases involving a state and the federal government
Why might the Supreme Court have been given original jurisdiction in the three areas mentioned? So that relations between countries are handled by the highest court in the land, and so that state or regional courts do not favor one state over another or over the federal gov.

11. In Closing
What are the 3 levels of the federal court system and the duties of each kind of federal court?