2. The Lower Courts District Courts The lowest level of federal system
Most cases have original jurisdiction (they hear the case for the first time)
There are 94-every state has one
Criminal and civil cases

3. Lower Courts Court of Appeals:
Appellate jurisdiction –authority to hear a case appealed from a lower court
Review decisions of district courts and rule whether trial was fair
13 circuits

4. District Courts
The U.S. district courts are the lowest of the federal system.
There are 94 district courts
They are responsible for determining the facts of a case

5. District Courts Cont. They take both criminal and civil cases
In criminal cases, district courts will determine if someone is guilty or innocent
They are the only federal courts where witnesses testify and juries hear cases and reach a verdict

6. Circuit Court of Appeals
They do not decide on the guilt or innocence of a person in a criminal case
They do not decide which party should win a lawsuit
Instead they have appellate jurisdiction

7. They review the fairness of a case appealed from a lower court
They can also review the decisions of a federal regulatory agency if a party thinks they were treated unfairly
Why would someone appeal a case?
When they feel that the district courts made a mistake
Who can appeal?
Only an accused person who is found guilty

8. Original Jurisdiction: the authority of a court to hear cases for the first time
Appellate Jurisdiction: the authority of a court to hear a case appealed from a lower court

9. Ruling
Appeals courts do not hold trials, instead a panel of three or more judge reviews the record of the case from trial. They also listen to arguments. Than the judges make their decisions.
They only rule on whether the original trial was a fair one

10. Judges can decide a case in one of three ways
Uphold the result of the trial which leaves the verdict in that trial unchanged
Can reverse the result of the trial
They can remand the case-send it back to the lower court to be tried again

11. Decisions of the courts of appeals are final unless they are appealed
Those appeals are made to the U.S. Supreme Court

12. Define Opinion: a detailed explanation of the legal thinking behind a court case
Define Precedent: a ruling that is used as the basis for a judicial decision in a later similar case

13. Principals of the Legal System
No federal court, may seek out an issue and ask both sides to bring it to court
The court must wait for litigants to come to them
All courts in the country must follow the precedents set by the U.S. Supreme Court

14. Federal Judges
Who is the chief decision maker in the judicial branch? Federal judges
How many judges serve on district courts? More than 650
How many judges does each appeals court have? Each appeals court has from 6-28 judges
How many judges does the Supreme Court have? Nine

15. Appointing Federal Judges
Who appoints federal judges-the president
Who approves them? The Senate

16. What would cause a vacancy in the court
What would cause a vacancy in the court? When a judge resigns, retires, or dies
Are there any specific qualifications? No in general though presidents want to appoint judges who share their ideas about justice and the law

17. What would cause a vacancy in the court?
Describe senatorial courtesy-this is how the process presidents follow when naming a judge. They submit the names of the candidates to the senators from the candidates state. If one senator objects the president typically nominates another candidate. This does not usually apply to the naming of judges to court of appeals or the Supreme Court

18. Once appointed, how long do federal judges hold their job-for life.
How can they be removed from office?
impeachment

19. Three Key Officials Magistrate Judge United States Attorney
United States Marshall

20. Magistrate Judges Due much of a judge’s routine work
Issue court orders
Hear preliminary evidence and decide if a case should be brought to trial
Decide if someone should be held in jail or receive bail
Serve as judges in minors cases
They are appointed by a majority of the federal judges in a district
They serve 8 year terms

21. United States Attorney
Each district has a United States attorney
They prosecute people accused of breaking federal law
Represent the government in civil cases where gov is involved
Serve 4 year terms appointed by president, approved by Senate

22. United States Marshal Each federal judicial district in the US has one
They make arrest, collect fines, take convicted persons to prison
Protect jurors, keep order, and deliver subpoenas