1. Dual Court System
Federal & State Courts

2. Set Up of the Federal Court System
Judiciary Act of 1789
United States Supreme Court
13 U.S. Court of Appeals
Special Courts District Courts
(Constitutional Courts)

3. Special Courts Special Article III Courts
U.S. Court of Claims: This court sits in Washington, D.C., and handles cases involving suits against the government.
U.S. Court of International Trade: This court sits in New York and handles cases involving tariffs and international trade disputes.
Special Courts Created by Congress
Magistrate judges: These judges handle certain criminal and civil matters, often with the consent of the parties.
Bankruptcy courts: These courts handle cases arising under the Bankruptcy Code.
U.S. Court of Military Appeals: This court is the final appellate court for cases arising under the Uniform Code of Military Justice.
U.S. Tax Court: This court handles cases arising over alleged tax deficiencies.
U.S. Court of Veterans' Appeals: This court handles certain cases arising from the denial of veterans' benefits.

4. State Courts: Jurisdiction
Cases involving the state constitution
State criminal offenses — include offenses such as murder, theft, breaking and entering, and destruction of property.
Personal injury law
Contract law
Probate— Deal with assets of the deceased
Family —dealing with marriage, divorce, adoption, child custody and support, and domestic-relations issues.

5. Continued Intrastate Commerce Corporations and business organization
Election issues
Municipal/zoning ordinances
Traffic regulation
Property

6. Concurrent Jurisdiction
Diversity Cases
2 citizens of different states involved in civil suit over $75,000
Federal Question Cases
Any state can take this type of case, but their decision subject to federal review by the U.S. Supreme Court

7. Selection of Judges Same nomination process as Supreme Court Justices
Senatorial courtesy & blue slips
Look to Senators opinion for judges within their districts
If a Senator doesn’t approve a nomination, he signs a blue slip and other Senators out of courtesy don’t approve the nomination
State judges are elected, appointed, or a combination

8. How a Case Gets to Court
Petitions on Appeals from State Supreme Court or U.S. Court of Appeals
Writ of Certiorari is granted if Supreme Court Agrees to hear case
Retrieve info. from lower Courts
If Court doesn’t agree to hear case
Ask lower courts to reconsider decision
Let lower decision stand