2. The Federal Court System

3. The National Judiciary: Key Terms Jurisdiction Exclusive jurisdiction Concurrent jurisdiction Plaintiff Defendant Original jurisdiction Appellate jurisdiction Dual Court System

4. Steps to the Supreme Court United States Supreme Court United States Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces Military Courts Federal Regulatory Agency

5. Steps Cont. United States Supreme Court 12 United States Courts of Appeals Untied States Tax Court Territorial Courts 91 United States District Courts Courts of the District of Columbia

6. Last Steps United States Supreme Court United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit United States Court of International Trade United States Claims Court United States Court of Veterans Appeals Highest State Courts

7. Federal Court Jurisdiction: Subject Matter 1. Interpretation and application of a provision in the Constitution or in any federal statute or treaty; 2. A question of admiralty (matters that arise on the high seas or navigable waters of the United States) or a question of maritime law (matters arising on land but directly relating to the water-for example, a contract to deliver a ship’s supplies at dockside)

8. Parties (Participants) 1. the US or one of its officers or agencies 2. an ambassador, consul, or other official representative of a foreign government 3. a State suing another State, or a citizen of another State, or a foreign government or one of it’s subjects

9. Parties Cont. 4. a citizen of one State suing a citizen of another State 5. an American citizen suing a foreign government or one of it’s subjects 6. a citizen of one State suing a citizen of that same State where both claim land under grants from different States

10. Appointment of Judges “shall nominate, and, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, shall appoint…judges of the Supreme Court.” The Constitution declares that the President “shall nominate, and, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, shall appoint…judges of the Supreme Court.” Congress has provided the same guidelines for Federal Judges

11. District Courts

12. Created by Congress in the Judiciary Acts of 1789 91 Courts: 89 in the States; 1 in The District of Columbia; 1 in Puerto Rico Have original jurisdiction over most cases that are heard in the federal courts 1 judge or panel of 3 judges Use grand juries to indict defendants and petit juries to try defendants

13. Courts of Appeals Created by Congress in 1891 12 Appeals 11 judicial for States 1 for District of Columbia

14. Court of Appeals Continued Generally panels of 3 judges hear and decide cases Sometimes all judges of the district will hear and decide cases of high importance Have only appellate jurisdiction

15. Constitutional Courts The Court of International Trade: Tariffs and trade-related laws Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit: appeals from Trade Court, Claims Court of Veterans Appeals

16. Resources http://straylight.law.cornell.edu/supct/index.ht ml http://wikipedia.org http://stu.findlaw.com/?lid=students_button