1. Unit 5 Day 1 and 2
U5 D1 - Comparing Judicial Branches – NC vs US U5 D2 - Supreme Court Opinions & Court Facts – NC & US

2. Chart showing State vs Federal Court Make-up (Key:
Chart showing State vs Federal Court Make-up (Key: * = Appeals court; ~ = Trial court)
NC Court System
Jury or Judge
US Court System
1. NC Supreme Court *
7 Justices (Judges)
1. US Supreme Court *
9 Justices (Judges)
2. NC Appeals Court *
Panel of Judges
2. US Appeals Court *
3. NC Superior Court ~
Jury and Judge
3. US District Court ~
4. NC District Court ~
Judge
N/A

3. NC Courts – use Ch. 13 for assistance pg. 374-397
NC Court System – interpret the law at the State level.
For the 4 courts below list 3 facts for each
NC Supreme Court –
NC Appeals Court –
NC Superior Court –
NC District Court –

4. US Courts – use Ch. 8 for assistance pg. 237-263
US Court System – interpret the law at the Federal level.
(For the 3 courts below list 3 facts for each)
US Supreme Court –
US Appeals Court –
US District Court –

5. Video on Judicial Decisions

6. Complete the Venn diagram below: Use similarities/difference to finish the chart.
NC US

7. Judicial Review
The State & Federal Supreme Court work as a panel to decide the appeal of cases brought forth to them by citizens of the state & the US. The State Supreme Court is the final appeal at the state level & the Federal Supreme Court is the final appeals court for the entire nation. Understand, both Supreme Court’s main job is to find justice for the individual/company/state that was wronged.
Example: in Miranda v. Arizona – the US Supreme Court was not looking at the criminal portion of the case (rape & kidnapping) by Ernesto Miranda; the Court was looking into why his 5th & 14th Amendment rights were not given to him. The Court sided w/ Miranda; understand that he still served prison time for his crimes he committed.

8. NC & US Supreme Court Justice Opinions
Definition
Why are all 3 of these opinions important in their own way? Use to analyze some examples.
Majority Opinion
Concurring Opinion
Dissenting Opinion

9. NC & US Courts use types of jurisdiction (the court’s authority to hear & decide a case.)
Definition
State, Federal or Both?
What court?
Exclusive
the power of only _________________ courts to hear/decide cases.
Federal Court
US District & US Supreme Court
Concurrent
the power for both _____________ & _________ courts to hear/decide a case
Both Courts NC Superior US District Court, US Supreme
Original
the power of a court to hear/decide a case for the _____________ time
Both Courts NC District, NC Superior
US District Court & US Supreme Court
Appellate
the power of a court to hear/decide a case on _______________
Both Courts
NC Superior, NC Appeals, NC Supreme,
US Appeals, US Supreme

10. Types of Cases heard in the Federal & State Courts
Federal Courts
State Courts
Both Courts
- Crimes under statuses enacted by Congress.
- Most cases involving federal laws or regulations (for ex: tax, Social Security, broadcasting, civil rights).
- Matters involving interstate & international commerce, including airline & railroad regulation.
- Admiralty cases.
- Bankruptcy matters.
- Disputes between states.
- Crimes under state legislation.
- State constitutional issues & cases involving state laws or regulations.
- Family law issues.
- Real property issues.
- Most private contract disputes (except those resolved under bankruptcy law).
- Most issues involving the regulation of trades & professions.
- Most professional malpractice issues.
- Crimes punishable under both federal & state law.
- Federal constitutional issues.
- Certain civil rights claims.
- Class action cases.
- Environmental regulations.
- Certain disputes involving Federal law.

11. Additional Court Info Example Federal Courts State Courts
Selection of Judges
The Constitution states that Federal judges are to be _________________ by the President & confirmed by the _____________.
Elected by the citizens of the state (Supreme and Appeals)
Elected by the citizens of the district (Superior and District)
Length of Terms
All Federal judge terms are for _____________
District court judges serve 4 year terms. 3 higher state court judges serve 8 year terms (w/ unlimited terms – must retire at age 72 for 3 higher courts)