1. The Court System
Going to trial

2. The Constitution Art III, Sec. 2: Federal Judiciary
“Trial of all crimes… shall be by jury…defendant has the right to confront opposing witnesses… Supreme court will settle disputes between the states… Congress establishes all other courts as necessary”

3. Bill of Rights: Guarantees
6th Amendment: the right to a speedy and public trial, an impartial jury, to confront witnesses, and to have consul for defense
7th Amendment: the right to a trial by jury in civil cases at the federal level

6. Dual Court System Federal Small part of American judicial system
Plays a limited role in justice
Drugs- 29% of all federal cases
Civil suits take majority of court time- bankruptcy, copyright and patents, postal fraud, etc

7. Dual Court System State
Most crimes/ cases are a violation of state law
Most cases are routine with little dispute of fact or law
Most end in a guilty plea before trial

8. Dual Court System Courts of limited jurisdiction
Inferior courts- traffic (majority), small claims, misdemeanor…
Courts of general jurisdiction
Superior courts- major trial courts
Civil cases dominate court dockets
Personal injury, probate/ estate, domestic (largest)

9. The Courts
Adversarial system- lawyers represent their clients, present evidence, examine the other side, and try to convince the jury/ judge
Defendant-- the person being charged {criminal} or sued {civil}
Prosecutor-- the person bringing the charges in a criminal case
Plaintiff-- the person bringing the charges in a civil case

10. Court cases Gideon v Wainright (1963)- Scott v. Il (1979)-
Ross v. Moffit-