1. District and Appeals Courts

2. Essential Question
What is the place of law in the American constitutional system?

3. What is the lowest level?
District Courts
Trials are held & lawsuits begin

4. District Original Jurisdiction
They have the authority to hear cases for the first time

5. Naming district courts
Each has jurisdiction or authority over a specific geographic area (district)

6. How many in each state? At least one but can be as many as four
Dependent on the size and population of the state

7. % of work in federal court
About 90%
Approximately 300,000 cases yearly

8. Types of cases
Criminal - mail fraud, bank robbery, income tax evasion, treason
Civil - labor relations, public lands, copyright and patent laws, civil rights

9. How many judges?
At least two, depending on caseload

10. How do judges get their job
President appoints
Senate approves

11. Average salary
$136, 700

12. Length of Term Appointed for life
Can be removed if they commit a serious crime

13. Magistrate
Issues court orders and hears preliminary evidence to determine whether a case should be brought to trial

14. United States Attorney
Government’s lawyer
Try to prove a suspect has committed a crime

15. Marshall Arrests suspects Delivers defendants to court
Serves people with subpoenas

16. How do they get their jobs?
Appointed with Senate approval

17. Subpoena
A court order requiring someone to appear in court

18. Courts at the second level?
Courts of Appeals

19. Appellate Jurisdiction
Hear cases that come to them on appeal from lower district courts
Hear cases from federal regulatory agencies

20. Courts of Appeals? 12

21. Determining Jurisdiction
Receives cases from the district courts within its own circuit

22. Which one in Pa?
3rd Circuit Court of Appeals

23. How many judges?
Ranges from 6 to 27
Dependent on the caseload

24. How do they get their job?
Appointed for life by the President
Approved by the Senate

25. Average Salary
$145,000

26. Appeals judges rule on... Have the defendants rights been protected
Did the defendants receive a fair trial

27. Other special federal courts
US Tax Court - federal tax laws
US Court of Federal Claims - Sue the government for $
US Court of Military Appeals - appeals of court-martial
US Court of International Trade - disputes in tariff or trade laws