2. Federal Court System U.S. Supreme Court U.S. Circuit Courts of Appeal U.S. District Courts Magistrate courts Bankruptcy courts U.S. Court of Military Appeals U.S. Tax Court U.S. Court of Veterans’ Appeals ARTICLE III COURTS ARTICLE I COURTS

3. U.S. District Courts 94 in the U.S. Trial courts Original jurisdiction Hear civil & criminal cases

4. U.S. Circuit Courts of Appeal 13 in the U.S. Dissatisfaction with the result from the U.S. District Courts Examine trials for mistakes DO NOT review facts of the case Panel of 3 judges

6. U.S. Supreme Court Highest court in country 9 justices Dissatisfaction with result from U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals State supreme court can petition for justices to hear case

7. State Court System Highest state court (various names) Highest state court (various names) Intermediate appellate courts Trial courts Limited jurisdiction Florida Supreme Court District Courts of Appeal Trial Courts GENERAL FLORIDA General jurisdiction CircuitCircuit CountyCounty

8. Trial Courts of Limited Jurisdiction Probate court Family court Traffic court Juvenile court Small claims court Municipal courts This court handles matters concerning adoption, annulments, divorce, alimony, custody, child support, etc. This court handles matters concerning administering the estate of a person who has died (decedent). This court usually handles minor violations of traffic laws. This court usually handles cases involving offenses against city ordinances. This court usually handles suits between private persons of a relatively low dollar amount. (Ex. less than $5,000) This court usually handles cases involving delinquent children under a certain age, for example, 18 or 21.

9. Judicial Lingo Key Term Definition Supreme Court Court that only reviews some cases, usually about the Constitution Court of Appeals Reviews cases to see if the trial court made a mistake District Court The trial court in the federal system Federal Courts Courts that hear disputes about laws that apply to the entire U.S. State Courts Courts that hear disputes about the laws of one state Trial Court Court that hears a case for the first time Evidence Objects or information used in court to prove what really happened

10. Judicial Lingo Key Term Definition Criminal Case A case involving someone who is accused of committing a crime Civil Case A case involving a disagreement where one side believes the other has violated their rights somehow Jury Trial A trial where a group of people decide the case Bench Trial A trial where only the judge hears evidence and decides the case Verdict Decision at the end of a case Appellate Court Court above the trial court Appeal Asking a higher court to review a case

11. Judicial Lingo Key Term Definition Affirm When an appellate court decides no mistake was made Reverse When an appellate court overturns the trial court’s verdict Remand When an appellate court sends a case back to the trial court Judicial Review The power of the Supreme Court to decide what the Constitution really says