COURTS OF THE JUDICIAL BRANCH

8th GradeMr. White

October 28, 2010

Vocabulary

Appeal

Vocabulary

Appeal

Key Points

The Supreme Court is the highest court in the land and what they say final

There are other courts as well: State and Federal

Appeals Courts here cases if one side feels a mistake was made

Court Hierarchy

Local Courts

State Courts

Federal District

Federal Appeals

SupremeCourt

Local Courts

Things like traffic tickets are decided in local courts

State Courts

Over 95% of the nation's legal cases are decided in state courts

In 1990 there were over 88 million cases heard at the state trial courts throughout the U.S.

Federal District

There are ninety four federal district courts across the country, with at least one in every state

Federal Appeals

When cases are appealed from district courts, they go to a federal court of appeals.

Decisions are made based on a review of lower-court records

There are 12 general appeals courts.

Supreme Court

There are nine justices; a Chief Justice of the United States and eight associate justices, who are appointed by the president with the advice and consent of the Senate.