1. The Role of Federal Courts
Chapter 10 Section 1

2. Key Terms Plaintiff Defendant Prosecution Precedent
Original Jurisdiction
Appeal
Appellate Jurisdiction

3. Laws and Courts Dispute involving law are resolved in the legal system
What they do
Was something done on purpose
What law was broken
Guilty or innocent?
How should the person be punished
If serious decided through the legal system

4. All courts do the same thing
What courts do
All courts do the same thing
Apply law to actual situation
Interpret law and decide how to apply them
Criminal and Civil
If Criminal decides guilt or innocence
If Civil settles a dispute
Broken contract, divorce, violation of rights
Fedral court hears both civil and criminal

5. Parties in the conflict Civil
Plaintiff- an individual or group who bring a complaint against another party.
Defendant- the party who answers the complaint and defends against it
D’Arcy v Upper Dublin Township
Defendant could be an individual, group, or a governmental body

6. Name of the Defendant is last Criminal case is brought by
When referencing a Civil Case the name of the Plaintiff is listed first
Name of the Defendant is last
Criminal case is brought by
Prosecution- a government body that brings a criminal charge against a defendant who is accused of breaking on of its laws
Prosecution is referred to the people

7. People of the State of Pennsylvania V D’Arcy
When referencing a criminal case the defendant’s name is last

8. Members of the Court Judge applies the laws between parties
Determines which side is more in keeping with the law
Directs the proceedings
Must remain neutral and not take a side
Most legal cases involve a jury who decides the facts
Trial by jury is a guaranteed Constitutional right

9. Interpreting the Laws Hearing a case Decide what law is in question
Is the law allowed by the Constitution
Process of interpretation
Precedent- a guideline for how all similar cases should be decided in the future
Makes the meaning of the Constitution clearer

10. State Courts and Federal Courts
Decisions to establish the broadest precedents made in higher courts
Each state has different court levels
Traffic courts
Juvenile courts
Municipal courts (city level)
Most of the everyday laws are state and local

11. Original jurisdiction- the authority to hear a case first
Determines the facts of the case
Usually a trial by jury
Because the hold trials to resolve the case
Courts with original jurisdictions are called trial courts

12. If plaintiff or defendant believe a decision is unjust
Appeal- to ask a higher court to review the decision and determine if justice was done
Each state has an appeals court hear lower case appeals
Appellate Jurisdiction- the authority to hear an appeal

13. Appeals court does not hold trials
Nor does it determine the facts of the case
It reviews the legal issues involved
Decides to affirm or let stand
If it thought the court was unfair may reverse a lower court decision
Can order another trial
When plaintiff is innocent the prosecution can not appeal (Constitution prohibits double jeopardy)

14. Appeal process can go beyond first appeal
Final court of appeals is the state Supreme Court
State Courts have three levels
Trial courts
Appeals court
Court of final appeals

15. Second They hear cases appealed from State Supreme Courts
Cases heard by Federal
Courts Cases involving federal law
Issues beyond state authority
Second They hear cases appealed from State Supreme Courts
Must involve federal law
Constitutional issue
Supreme Court leadership in federal system