2. The Federal Court System
C & E

3. Key Terms
Jurisdiction
exclusive jurisdiction
concurrent jurisdiction

4. EQs How did the federal court system originate?
What kinds of cases are handled in federal courts?

5. Key Concepts
Judicial Branch
Types of Jurisdiction

6. Equal Justice For All
settle civil disputes btwn private parties, a private party & the government, or the United States & a state or local government
Each side presents its position
Courts apply the law & decide in favor of one or the other

7. Equal Justice For All
Courts hold criminal trials for people accused of crimes
Witnesses present evidence & a jury or a judge delivers a verdict of guilt or innocence
All accused people have the right to a public trial and a lawyer
If cannot afford a lawyer, the court will appoint & pay for one
Gideon vs. Wainwright

8. Equal Justice For All Difficult to achieve
Accused people are considered innocent until proven guilty
may ask for a review of their case if they think the court has made a mistake
The goal of the legal system is equal justice under the law
Difficult to achieve

9. Why is the goal of equal justice under the law difficult to achieve?
Judges and juries are not free from personal prejudices or prejudices of their communities. Poor people do not have the money to spend on the best legal help.

10. The Federal Court System
Article III
Est nat’l Supreme Court & gave Congress power to est lower fed courts
Congress set up three levels in the fed court system
district courts at the bottom
appeals courts in the middle
Supreme Court at the top
Each state has its own laws & court system

11. The Federal Court System
Jurisdiction
court’s authority to hear & decide cases
The Constitution gives fed courts jurisdiction over eight kinds of cases
If the law in question applies to the U.S. Constitution, a fed court hears the case
Fed courts hear cases involving violation of fed laws

12. The Federal Court System
Any disagreement btwn state gov’ts winds up in fed court
Fed courts hear lawsuits btwn citizens of different states
If the U.S. gov’t sues someone or someone sues the U.S. government
a fed court hears the case
Fed courts hear disputes btwn a for. Gov’t & either the U.S. gov’t or an American private party

13. The Federal Court System
Admiralty & maritime laws concern accidents/crimes on the high seas
Fed courts hear cases involving these laws
Fed courts hear cases involving U.S. diplomats
For most of these eight areas, federal courts have exclusive jurisdiction
only they may hear & decide such cases
Most U.S. court cases involve state law & are tried in state courts

14. The Federal Court System
In a few circumstances, the state & fed courts have concurrent jurisdiction
they share jurisdiction & either may hear the case

15. In what eight areas do federal courts generally have exclusive jurisdiction?
Federal courts generally have exclusive jurisdiction in cases involving (1) the Constitution, (2) violations of federal laws, (3) controversies between states, (4) disputes between parties from different states, (5) suits by or against the federal government, (6) foreign governments and treaties, (7) admiralty and maritime laws, and (8) U.S. diplomats.

16. Checking for Understanding
Define Match the terms on the right with their definitions on the left. B
__ 1. cases in which only federal courts have jurisdiction
__ 2. a court’s authority to hear and decide cases
__ 3. cases in which state and federal courts share jurisdiction
A. jurisdiction
B. exclusive jurisdiction
C. concurrent jurisdiction A C