1. NB#26 Judicial Branch Notes
Chapter 18

2. *“We are under a Constitution, but the Constitution is what the judges say it is.” - Supreme Court Justice

3. *Jurisdiction of the Federal (National) Courts
Federal Courts hear cases involving federal law, treaties and interpreting the Constitution
State Courts hear cases involving state laws.

4. Jurisdiction of the Federal (National) District Courts
Criminal Cases- A defendant is tried for committing some action that Congress has declared by law to be a federal crime.
Civil Cases- Involves a case of a noncriminal matter. (Often cases involving money)
Example: Copyright violation

5. Lower Federal Courts
Created by Congress as outlined in Article III.
94 District Courts
12 Judicial Circuits
12 Federal appeals courts hear appeals from their circuits + 1 U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit which has nationwide appellate jurisdiction.

6. Appeals Courts (Circuit Courts)
13 appeals courts- eases the appellate workload of the Supreme Court.
Receives case after a lower court has given a ruling on that case.

8. Appointed by President, confirmed by Senate.
Supreme Court Justices
Appointed by President, confirmed by Senate.
9 Members: 8 associate justices and 1 Chief Justice (leader).
Congress can impeach

9. Supreme Court Jurisdiction
Most cases heard are appellate cases.
Writ of Certiorari (sir-she-or-airee): an order to a lower court to send up a case for review