1. [ 7.3 ] The Inferior Courts and the Special Courts

2. [ 7.3 ] The Inferior Courts and the Special Courts
Learning Objectives
Describe the structure and jurisdiction of the federal district courts, the federal courts of appeals, and other constitutional courts.
Contrast the jurisdiction of the Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces and the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims.
Explain how a citizen may sue the United States government in the Court of Federal Claims.
Examine the roles of the territorial courts and those of the District of Columbia courts.
Explain what types of cases are brought to the Tax Court.

3. [ 7.3 ] The Inferior Courts and the Special Courts
Key Terms
criminal case
civil case
docket
record,
courts-martial
civilian tribunal,
Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
redress

4. The Structure and Role of the Federal District Courts
You know that the particular meaning of a word often depends on the context—the setting—in which it is used. Thus, pitch can be either a baseball term or a musical term; it can also refer to setting up a tent or to a high-pressure sales talk. The word inferior also has various meanings. Here, it describes the lower federal courts, those courts created by an act of Congress to function beneath the Supreme Court. The inferior courts handle nearly all of the cases tried in the federal courts.

5. Federal Judicial Districts and Judges Courts Focused on Terrorism
The Structure and Role of the Federal District Courts
Federal Judicial Districts and Judges
Courts Focused on Terrorism
District Court Jurisdiction
District Court Cases
Final Decisions

6. The Structure and Role of the Federal District Courts
Changes in the United States population are mirrored by changes in the federal district courts. Analyze Charts Why does a State name no longer always suffice as a district court name?

7. The Structure and Role of the Federal District Courts
There were 94 federal district courts in A biannual survey examines if new district judgeships are needed. Analyze Maps What do the States with multiple districts have in common?

8. The Structure and Role of the Federal District Courts
FISA court activities are generally not shared with the public. Analyze Political Cartoons What is implied about how the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court affects our civil liberties?

9. The Structure and Role of the Federal Courts of Appeals
The courts of appeals were created by Congress in They were established as “gatekeepers” to relieve the Supreme Court of much of the burden of hearing appeals from the decisions of the district courts. Those appeals had become so numerous that the High Court was more than three years behind on its docket—its list of cases to be heard.

10. Appellate Court Judges Circuit-Based Appellate Court Jurisdiction
The Structure and Role of the Federal Courts of Appeals
Appellate Court Judges
Circuit-Based Appellate Court Jurisdiction
Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit Jurisdiction
An Important Role

11. The Structure and Role of the Federal Courts of Appeals
Cases originating in various courts can be appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court. Analyze Charts In which courts do you suppose the largest number of cases originate?

12. The Structure and Role of the Federal Courts of Appeals
Before his nomination to the Supreme Court in 1990, Justice Clarence Thomas sat on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.

13. The Court of International Trade
Congress has established one other Article III court, the Court of International Trade. Often called the Trade Court, this body was originally created in 1890, and was restructured as a constitutional court in 1980.

14. The Court of International Trade
The U.S. Court of International Trade serves the important function of resolving disputes that cross national borders and may affect crucial economic opportunities, both here and abroad.

15. Military Justice—Special Courts and Commissions
Recall, the national court system is made up of two quite distinct types of federal courts. They are (1) the constitutional courts, sometimes called the regular or Article III courts, already discussed, and (2) the special courts, also known as the legislative or Article I courts.

16. Military Justice—Special Courts and Commissions
The Purpose of Military Courts
The Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces
The Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims
Military Commissions

17. Military Justice—Special Courts and Commissions
U.S. military courts, or courts-martial, employ lawyers and judges to try military personnel for crimes such as theft and assault, as well as for military offenses like desertion.

18. Other Special Courts
The other special courts also have very narrow jurisdictions. They include the Court of Federal Claims, the territorial courts, the District of Columbia courts, and the U.S. Tax Court.

19. The Court of Federal Claims Methods of Compensation
Other Special Courts
The Court of Federal Claims
Methods of Compensation
The Territorial Courts
The District of Columbia Courts
The United States Tax Court

20. Other Special Courts
In 2013, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of Maryland’s DNA Collection Act.Analyze Political Cartoons What is the relationship between the long arm of the law and Lady Liberty?

21. Quiz: The Structure and Role of the Federal District Courts
It was announced today that the district attorney obtained an indictment from the grand jury in Joe Brown v. United States. How do you know this criminal case is being tried in a federal district court?
A. These courts are the only federal courts that use grand juries to indict defendants.
B. District attorneys are not involved in civil cases, but they do work on criminal cases in the federal district court system.
C. The indictment would be top secret if any other type of federal courts were involved.
D. One cannot make this determination from the information that is provided.

22. Quiz: The Structure and Role of the Federal District Courts
It was announced today that the district attorney obtained an indictment from the grand jury in Joe Brown v. United States. How do you know this criminal case is being tried in a federal district court?
A. These courts are the only federal courts that use grand juries to indict defendants.
B. District attorneys are not involved in civil cases, but they do work on criminal cases in the federal district court system.
C. The indictment would be top secret if any other type of federal courts were involved.
D. One cannot make this determination from the information that is provided.

23. A. right to impartial jury trial
Quiz: The Structure and Role of the Federal Courts of Appeals
Which basic principle regarding citizens' right to a fair trial is served by the appellate system?
A. right to impartial jury trial
B. right to assistance of legal counsel
C. right to obtain witnesses
D. right to speedy trial

24. A. right to impartial jury trial
Quiz: The Structure and Role of the Federal Courts of Appeals
Which basic principle regarding citizens' right to a fair trial is served by the appellate system?
A. right to impartial jury trial
B. right to assistance of legal counsel
C. right to obtain witnesses
D. right to speedy trial

25. Quiz: The Court of International Trade
When a verdict from the Court of International Trade is appealed, which court hears the case?
A. the Supreme Court
B. the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
C. the court of appeals to which the jurisdiction of the original trial site is assigned
D. the Court of Federal Claims

26. Quiz: The Court of International Trade
When a verdict from the Court of International Trade is appealed, which court hears the case?
A. the Supreme Court
B. the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
C. the court of appeals to which the jurisdiction of the original trial site is assigned
D. the Court of Federal Claims

27. Quiz: Military Justice—Special Courts and Commissions
Which of these cases could end up in the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims?
A. An army officer is accused of submitting several thousand dollars of fraudulent travel vouchers for reimbursement.
B. The children of a naval officer claim burial benefits for their mother, who remarried after the death of their father.
C. A former Green Beret sues another veteran for slander.
D. An illegal alien is arrested on charges of making terrorist threats to a member of the Marine Corps.

28. Quiz: Military Justice—Special Courts and Commissions
Which of these cases could end up in the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims?
A. An army officer is accused of submitting several thousand dollars of fraudulent travel vouchers for reimbursement.
B. The children of a naval officer claim burial benefits for their mother, who remarried after the death of their father.
C. A former Green Beret sues another veteran for slander.
D. An illegal alien is arrested on charges of making terrorist threats to a member of the Marine Corps.

29. Quiz: Other Special Courts
Which two special courts have basically the same role?
A. the Court of Federal Claims and the United States Tax Court
B. the Territorial Court of Guam and the District of Columbia Courts
C. the District of Columbia Courts and the Court of Federal Claims
D. the United States Tax Court and the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims

30. Quiz: Other Special Courts
Which two special courts have basically the same role?
A. the Court of Federal Claims and the United States Tax Court
B. the Territorial Court of Guam and the District of Columbia Courts
C. the District of Columbia Courts and the Court of Federal Claims
D. the United States Tax Court and the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims