1. The Federal Court System

2. District Courts
The federal district courts where trials are held and lawsuits begin
Original Jurisdiction: hear cases for the first time
Responsibilities:
Determining the facts of the case
Hold trials for civil and criminal federal cases
Decide guilt or innocence
Only courts where witnesses testify, juries hear cases, reach verdicts

3. District Courts Number: Each state has at least one
Total #: NC – 12/1T; US – 94
NC is divided into 3 geographical districts (eastern, middle, western)

4. EASTERN

5. MIDDLE

6. WESTERN

7. District Courts Types of cases: federal criminal and civil cases
Each district court has at least one judge
President appoints - Senate approves
Salary: $205,100
Length of term: LIFE
Only level that has trials

8. District Courts Magistrate: (2) US Attorney: Marshal: (2) Others: (2)
Issues court orders
Hears preliminary evidence
Decides bail
Hears minor cases
US Attorney:
Gov’t lawyers
Marshal: (2)
Makes arrest
Collects fines
Takes convicted people to prison
Protects jurors
Keeps order
Serves legal papers
Others: (2)
Clerks, secretaries, court reporters, probation officers

9. Appeals Courts Review decisions made in lower district courts
Appellate jurisdiction:
Authority to hear a case appealed from a lower court

10. Appeals Courts Number: 12 Types of cases heard:
Cases where an appeal was made from a decision in a district court
Judges: in each appeals court
President appoints; Senate approves
Salary: $217,600
Length of term: Life

11. Appeals Court Appeals courts do not hold trials Possible rulings:
Uphold the original decision (affirm)
Reverse/overturn
Remand the case to the lower court

13. Supreme Court Highest court in the country
Jurisdiction: Original and Appellate
9 Justices 1 Chief Justice, 8 Associate Justices
President appoints; Senate approves
Salary: AS - $251,800 , CJ - $263,300
Length of term: Life

14. Supreme Court Cases heard: Decide whether laws are constitutional
Cases on appeal
Cases involving Constitution
Decide whether laws are constitutional
JUDICIAL REVIEW

15. Supreme Court
POWERS:
Judicial Review
Interpret meaning of laws

16. Supreme Court Checks on power: Change law to fit the Constitution
Change the Constitution to fit the law
President appoints judges, Senate approves
Congress can impeach and remove judges from office
Can only rule in cases that come to it

17. “Juris-what?”***
Jurisdiction- the authority of a certain court to hear a case
Four Types:
Original: hears the case first
Appellate (appeals): hears case after it has been heard in a lower court and appealed
Concurrent jurisdiction: either state or federal courts could try the case
Exclusive jurisdiction: only one court can hear the case