1. The US Court System & Their Jurisdiction
Chapter 2

2. A dual court system
Federal Courts hear certain cases, State Courts hear certain cases.
Courts have to have jurisdiction
Jurisdiction - the power and authority given to a court to hear a case and to make a judgment.

3. Federal Court Jurisdiction
Actions in which the US or one state is a party, except state v. citizens
Cases that raise a federal question, such as interpreting the Constitution
Diversity of citizenship cases, cases involving citizens of different states with amounts over $75,000
Admiralty cases, pertaining to the sea
Patent and copyright cases
Bankruptcy cases

4. Federal Courts US Supreme Court US Court of Appeals
US Special Trial Courts

5. State Courts Local Trial Courts General Trial Courts
Intermediate Court of Appeals
State Supreme Court

6. State Court System Local Trial Courts General Trial/Circuit Courts
handle minor matters such as misdemeanors and civil actions involving small amounts of money
e.g. traffic courts, municipal courts, juvenile courts, small claims
General Trial/Circuit Courts
Handle criminal and civil cases in each county
e.g. Jasper County

7. State Court System Intermediate Appellate Courts Supreme Court
hear appeals from general trial courts, hear oral arguments from attorneys and study the documents
MO has three
Supreme Court
court of the state, don't retry, determine whether an error happened in the lower courts. Court chooses cases it hears
Jefferson City

8. Jurisdiction Original Appellate
authority of a court to try a case the first time it is heard
Federal district courts
Federal Supreme Court
Appellate
able to hear a case again in case of error, any party can appeal in the circuit where it was tried.
Federal Court of appeals
State Intermediate Appellate Courts
State Supreme Court

9. Jurisdiction Limited General local courts that hear minor matters
Local Trial Courts
General
handles civil and criminal cases, major crimes and large amounts of money begin here
General Trial Courts

10. Opinion Poll A juvenile is anyone under the age of 17.
Hitchhiking, although dangerous, is not a crime.
It is not a crime to set an abandoned house on fire.
If a juvenile is convicted of possessing either alcohol or illegal drugs it is up to the judge whether the juvenile loses a driver’s license for one year.

11. Opinion Poll
When a juvenile is stopped by a police officer, the juvenile has the right to remain silent and ask for an attorney.
It is not a crime to hide a stolen item for a friend if you have not participated in the stealing of that item.
Throwing rolls of toilet paper in someone's yard for fun and smashing Halloween pumpkins are against the law.
A juvenile must be at least 14 years old before the court may try the juvenile as an adult.

12. Opinion Poll The judge must treat all juvenile offenders equally.
At age 17, all juvenile records are destroyed and a juvenile offender begins adulthood with a clean record.
Anyone with any kind of driver’s license is treated as an adult under Missouri's traffic laws.

13. Opinion Poll
Having a switchblade handy under your car seat is a crime.
Skipping school may make my parents angry but it is not against the law.
The judge may not place a juvenile offender in a foster home when the juvenile has committed only one crime

14. If a Minor commits a Crime:
Each case considered individually
Detention Hearing – Judge learns whether to keep accused in custody
Investigation – background & home life.
Adjudicatory Hearing - informal, actual hearing of the case and the court.
Dispositional Hearing – decide sentencing

15. Juvenile Settlement Offender returns home on probation
Offender placed in a foster home.
Offender committed to a training or reform school (juvenile hall)
Pay for damages
**Rehabilitation not punishment**

16. When are Juveniles treated as adults?
Certification—the process in which a judge determines if a juvenile should stand trial as an adult.
If certified:
Will have criminal convictions in his record for the rest of his life
Can be sent to adult prisons
If further offenses are committed he/she will always be considered an adult

17. What is considered? Offense was against people or against property?
Offense involved viciousness, force or violence?
Seriousness of the offense
Does the community need protection from?
Part of a repetitive pattern?
Sophistication and maturity
Age
Program and facilities available to the juvenile court

18. Trial Procedures - Civil
ADR-Alternative Dispute Resolution
Quick and inexpensive
Reactive and proactive
Pleading
Complaint
Answer
Pretrial hearing
Jury trial

19. Civil Trial Con’t Jury Selection Opening statements
Introduction of evidence
Witnesses
Documentary items (receipts, letters, contracts)
Physical (weapons, photos, items found at the crime scene)

20. Civil Trial Cont Closing arguments Instructions to the jury
Verdict and judgment
Remedies
Specific performance
Injunction
Execution of judgment

21. Criminal Trial Procedure
Arrest of defendant
Rights
Search and seizure
Arraignment
Indictment
Arraignment – guilty/not guilty
Trial

22. Criminal Trial Cont Sentencing Fines Imprisonment Death penalty
Juvenille
detention hearing
outcome decided by judge (return home on probation, place in agency or foster care, training or reform school