1. Judicial Branch Chapter 11 and 12

2. Purpose of Judicial Branch
Interpret Laws Passed by Congress
Assure Laws That are Passed are Constitutional
Established under Article III of Constitution
Congress given Authority to Establish all “Inferior” Federal Courts

3. Adversarial vs Inquistional
U.S. has a Adversarial legal system
Contest between opposing sides
Jury determines facts
Europe uses the inquisitional system
Judges serve as the jury

4. Organization of Federal Courts
Benton
East St. Louis
(General Trial Courts)

5. Federal Court Structure

6. Illinois Divided into 3 “Zones”

7. CQ

9. Qualifications for Federal Judges
There are None!
Selection
Term
Salary – Chief $255,500, Associate $244, 400 (Appellate 85%, District 80%)
Lifetime Full Pension (Same as salary!)
Support Personnel

10. Organization of State Courts
Terms
Illinois Supreme
Court
10 yrs
All State judges are elected by the people!
Appellate Courts
(Mt. Vernon)
10 yrs
Circuit Judge – 6 yrs
Associate – 4 yrs
Circuit Courts
(Trial Courts)
Benton

11. What is “Judicial Review?”
Used to determine Constitutionality of all Laws!
Marbury vs Madison
Jurisdiction
Legal Authority of the Court

12. U.S. Supreme Court “Highest Court of the Land” Jurisdiction
Original
Appellate
9 Justices (Select a Chief Justice)
Terms/Salaries/ Qualifications

13. Information About the Supreme Court
9 Supreme Court Justices – life term
8,000 cases are referred to the court, hear about 80 a year
Must have a writ of certiori for the court to consider case (99% denied!)
1st Monday in October – end of June
Most cases come from lower Federal courts

14. Supreme Court (cont.)
After a case is heard, court makes a decision – 4 options:
1. Unanimous Decision
2. Majority Opinion
3. Dissenting Opinion
4. Concurring Opinion
Final decision results in a Precedent, which all other lower courts must follow!