1. Warm-up (50L)
Think back (or use your NB and look!) to the Constitution unit. What rights are guaranteed to people accused of crimes? What amendments guarantee those rights?
What do you think “equal justice under the law” means? Do you think people in the US get it? Why or why not?

2. The United States Court System

3. Role of the Judicial branch
Which article of the Constitution?
Role of Courts in the US:
Use law to settle disputes
Equal justice for all  fair trials
GOAL of Courts (what they want to do)
Treat EVERY PERSON the same
What rights does every accused person have? (B.O.R.)

4. Federal court jurisdiction
(when does a case go to the federal courts, rather than the state courts?)  8 scenarios
Constitution (ex: free speech – 1st amend)
Federal laws (ex: kidnapping; tax evasion)
Disputes between states (ex: NC sues CA)
Citizens from different states
Federal gov’t involved (ex: person sue fed gov’t)
Foreign gov’ts & treaties
Laws relating to sea (ex: crimes, accidents, etc)
US Diplomats (ex: ambassador breaks US law)

5. Types of jurisdiction
Exclusive: ONLY federal courts can hear these cases (states CANNOT)
Concurrent: federal and/or state courts can hear case
Original: FIRST court to hear cases
Appellate: review decisions made by lower courts to check for errors

6. Cake of US federal courts
US Supreme Court
US Court of Appeals
US District Court

7. US District Courts Purpose: hold trials, begin lawsuits
Jurisdiction: original
TRIAL COURTS  decide guilt/ innocence (only fed. Courts to do this)
94 US District Courts; each hears cases that happen in their district

8. US Court of Appeals Purpose: review decisions made in lower courts
Jurisdiction: appellate
12 US Courts of Appeals w/ jurisdiction over a circuit (region/area)

9. Panel of 3+ judges reviews record of case Possible decisions
Uphold (keep) decision of lower court
Reverse (overturn) decision of lower court
Remand case (send it back to lower court to be tried again)
Ex: failed to admit witnesses? Evidence? New trial w/ those things
Do NOT decide guilt/innocence  ONLY whether rights upheld/ law followed
Decisions final unless appealed to SCOTUS

10. Logistics Opinion: explanation of legal thinking behind decision
Set precedent for all courts w/in district for future
Not law but sthng to consider
Choosing Cases & Precedent
Courts/ judges CANNOT just seek out stuff they want to hear  they have to wait for people to have dispute & bring case to court
Decisions of highest court in jurisdiction are binding (must be followed) by ALL lower courts in that jurisdiction
Which courts have to listen to SCOTUS? Why?

11. JUDGES & OFFICIALS Term Lengths
How long?
Who appoints federal judges/justices?
Who has to approve?
Magistrate judge: routine work in district courts (ex: search warrants, bail, prelim evidence)
US Attorney: gov’t prosecutor (try to prove someone is guilty of sthng)
US Marshal: makes arrests, collects fines, protects jurors, etc.