1. Article III of the US Constitution
The Judicial Branch
Article III of the US Constitution

2. US Court System : 2court system
State courts:
Jurisdiction over state laws
Federal courts:
Jurisdiction over:
US Laws
Foreign treaties
Interpretation of the Constitution
Concurrent Jurisdiction:
Shared by the state & federal courts
Involved in disputes between citizens of different states

3. Federal Courts Supreme Court Federal Circuit Courts
(part of the Federal Appellate Courts)
Federal District Courts

4. Supreme Court Justices
Requirements:
Appointed by the president
Approved by the Senate
Appointed for LIFE
No formal written qualifications
9 judges
Removed from office by impeachment:
Treason
Bribery
High crimes & misdemeanors

5. Supreme Court Justices
The Justices are always seated by seniority; as the newest justice Gorsuch, stands in the back row to Chief Justice John Roberts farthest left.
From left in front: Justice
Ruth Bader Ginsberg
Justice Anthony Kennedy
Justice John Roberts
Justice Clarence Thomas
Justice Stephen Breyer
Standing from left:
Justice Elena Kagan
Justice Samuel Alito
Justice Sonya Sotamayor
Associate Justice Neil Gorsuch
Gorsuch
Alito
Sotomayor
Kagan
Ginsberg
Kennedy
Roberts
Thomas
Breyer

6. HUGH P. THOMPSON, Chief Justice P
HUGH P. THOMPSON, Chief Justice P. HARRIS HINES, Presiding Justice ROBERT BENHAM, Justice CAROL W. HUNSTEIN, Justice HAROLD D. MELTON, Justice DAVID E. NAHMIAS, Justice KEITH R. BLACKWELL, Justice
Georgia Supreme Court

8. Supreme Court Jurisdiction
Appellate Jurisdiction
Court of appeals
Original Jurisdiction:
Representatives of foreign governments
Representing a state as a party in the case

9. How cases reach the court?
1. Referred cases of appeals from lower courts 2. Writ of Certiorari petition that a lower court decision involved an error raising a serious constitutional issue
Usually will hear cases if decision will make a difference;
If a plaintiff has suffered real harm, or cases that involve a federal question
They avoid political issues
Writ of Certiorari – petition that a lower court’s decision involved an error raising a serious constitutional issue

10. How are major cases decided?
Brief: details legal arguments, facts, precedents
Stare decisis : judges are required to respect the precedent est. by a prior court
Amicus curiae: “friend of the court”
Oral arguments by lawyers; justices question
Justices vote
Justices issue opinions
Amicus curiae – friend of the court – briefs they come form indivdual, interest groups, or government agencies claiming to have info useful to the Court’s consideration of the case

11. How are major cases decided?
Opinions:
Unanimous opinion
Majority opinion
Concurring opinion
Dissenting / minority opinion
Per curiam opinion (“by the court”)
Opinions are based on law, not personal opinions
Majority opinion – presents view of justices who supported a decision
Concurring opinion – supports the majority decision but offers different reasons for reaching that deicison (yes, but let me explain why…)
Dissenting / minority opinion – disagrees with the majority, but often indicates important point of view
Per curiam opinion “by the court” – a majority opinion that is anonymous (no names)

12. Court Decisions Decisions are based on : Judicial review
Interpreting laws
Overruling or reversing previous decisions
Example:
Plessy v. Ferguson, 1896, “separate but equal”
Brown v. Board of Education,1954, ends segregation in public school

13. Checks & Balances
Can declare laws of Congress & acts of the President unconstitutional
Marbury v. Madison 1803
Gave the Court power to review acts of Congress (Judicial Review)

14. Checks and Balance Marbury v Madison 1803
Established the precedent of judicial review
Chief Justice John Marshall ( 4th)
His decisions helped establish the SC as a coequal branch
Judicial review: Marbury v Madison
Modified

15. Criminal Cases Two types of juries: Court of Appeals:
Grand jury: examines evidence and accusations; decides if formal charges may be brought
Trial jury: weighs the evidence presented at trial
Court of Appeals:
May decide to:
uphold the original decision
Reverse the decision
Send the case back to be trial again

16. General Criminal Trial Terms
Miranda Rights
Indictment
Bail
Capital punishment
Double jeopardy
Plea agreement
What did you learn from Ice T??
Indictment – formal accustation charging a person with a crime