Section 1.2

The Court System and Trial Procedures

Section 1.2 The Court System and Trial Procedures

The United States has two major court systems: the federal and the state courts.

The power a court has to hear a case and make a judgment is called jurisdiction.

Section 1.2 The Court System and Trial Procedures

The federal court system consists of:

district courts

appellate courts

special U.S. courts

the Supreme Court

Section 1.2 The Court System and Trial Procedures

Most state court systems consist of:

local trial courts

general trial courts

special courts, such as juvenile courts

intermediate appellate courts

state supreme courts

Section 1.2 The Court System and Trial Procedures

An appellate court is not a trial court, but reviews the decision of a lower court.

Section 1.2 The Court System and Trial Procedures

Section 1.2 The Court System and Trial Procedures

Federal Court System

ONE United States Supreme Court

United States Courts of Appeals

13 circuit courts(11 numbered circuits, a DC circuit, and a Federal circuit)

Federal District Courts

94 district courts

Section 1.2 The Court System and Trial Procedures

Supreme Court - The highest court in the United States!

Roberts Court, 2010: Back row (left to right): Sonia Sotomayor, Stephen G. Breyer, Samuel A. Alito, and Elena Kagan. Front row (left to right): Clarence Thomas, Antonin Scalia, Chief Justice John G. Roberts, Anthony Kennedy, and Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

Section 1.2 The Court System and Trial Procedures

1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th 9th 10th 11th DC FED

ME CT DE MD LA KY IL AR AK CO AL DC FED

MA NY NJ SC MS OH IN IA AZ KS GA

NH VT PA NC TX MI WI MN CA NM FL

RI VA TE MO HI OK

WV NE ID UT

ND MT WY

SD NV

OR

WA

St. Louis, Missouri

Section 1.2 The Court System and Trial Procedures

4 Federal district courts

Section 1.2 The Court System and Trial Procedures

Civil cases are brought by one individual against another.

Criminal cases are brought by the government for offenses committed against the public.