1. Presented by Mr. Eash

2.  9 Members of the court  1 chief justice  8 associate justices  Justices appointed by president and confirmed by congress  Justices serve life long terms  Simple majority needed to win a case (5 votes)

3. The Federal Courts The authority for the federal court system is in the Constitution. The system includes: The Supreme Court The federal courts of appeals The federal district courts

4. United States District Courts Trials in federal district court are usually heard by a judge. General trial courts Federal criminal cases involve:  Bank robbery  Counterfeiting  Mail fraud  Kidnapping  Civil rights abuses

5. Circuit Courts of Appeals A party that loses a case in district court may appeal to a federal circuit court of appeals, or in some cases, directly to the U.S. Supreme Court.

6. Circuit Courts of Appeals Circuit courts of appeals review a case for errors of law, not of fact. Normally, three judges sit as a panel to hear cases. Jury trials are not allowed.

7. The United States Supreme Court Court of last resort in all questions of federal law and U.S. Constitution. The court may hear cases:  Appealed from federal courts of appeal.  Appealed directly from federal district courts.  Appealed from the high court of a state, if claims under federal law or the Constitution are involved.

8. The United States Supreme Court In order for a case to be heard by the Supreme Court, at least four justices must vote to hear the case.

9. The United States Supreme Court When the court decides a case, it can: Affirm the decision of the lower court and “let it stand.” Modify the decision of the lower court, without totally reversing it. continued…

10. The United States Supreme Court Reverse the decision of the lower court, requiring no further court action. Reverse the decision of the lower court and remand the case to the court of original jurisdiction, for either retrial or resentencing.

11.  http://government.mrdonn.org/powerpoints /supremecourt.html