The Federal Court SystemThe Federal Court System

The National Judiciary:The National Judiciary:Key TermsKey Terms Jurisdiction Exclusive jurisdiction Concurrent jurisdiction Plaintiff Defendant Original jurisdiction Appellate jurisdiction Dual Court System

Steps to the Supreme CourtSteps to the Supreme Court

United States Supreme CourtUnited States Supreme Court

United States Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces

Military Courts

Federal Regulatory Agency

Steps Cont.Steps Cont.

United States Supreme CourtUnited States Supreme Court

12 United States Courts of Appeals

Untied States Tax Court

Territorial Courts

91 United States District Courts

Courts of the District of Columbia

Last StepsLast Steps

United States Supreme CourtUnited States Supreme Court

United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit

Highest State Courts

United States Court of International Trade

United States Claims Court

United States Court of Veterans Appeals

Federal Court Jurisdiction:Federal Court Jurisdiction:Subject MatterSubject Matter 1. Interpretation and application of a provision

in the Constitution or in any federal statute or treaty;

2. A question of admiralty (matters that arise on the high seas or navigable waters of the United States) or a question of maritime law (matters arising on land but directly relating to the water-for example, a contract to deliver a ship’s supplies at dockside)

Parties (Participants)Parties (Participants)

1. the US or one of its officers or agencies

2. an ambassador, consul, or other official representative of a foreign government

3. a State suing another State, or a citizen of another State, or a foreign government or one of it’s subjects

Parties Cont.Parties Cont.

4. a citizen of one State suing a citizen of another State

5. an American citizen suing a foreign government or one of it’s subjects

6. a citizen of one State suing a citizen of that same State where both claim land under grants from different States

Appointment of JudgesAppointment of Judges

The Constitution declares that the President “shall “shall nominate, and, by and nominate, and, by and with the advice and with the advice and consent of the Senate, consent of the Senate, shall appoint…judges of shall appoint…judges of the Supreme Court.”the Supreme Court.”

Congress has provided the same guidelines for Federal Judges

District CourtsDistrict Courts

District CourtsDistrict Courts

Created by Congress in the Judiciary Acts of 1789

91 Courts: 89 in the States; 1 in The District of Columbia; 1 in Puerto Rico

Have original jurisdiction over most cases that are heard in the federal courts

1 judge or panel of 3 judges Use grand juries to indict defendants and

petit juries to try defendants

Courts of AppealsCourts of Appeals

Created by Congress in 1891

12 Appeals 11 judicial for States 1 for District of

Columbia

Court of Appeals ContinuedCourt of Appeals Continued

Generally panels of 3 judges hear and decide cases

Sometimes all judges of the district will hear and decide cases of high importance

Have only appellate jurisdiction

Constitutional CourtsConstitutional Courts

The Court of International Trade: Tariffs and trade-related laws

Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit: appeals from Trade Court, Claims Court of Veterans Appeals

Resources

http://straylight.law.cornell.edu/supct/index.html

http://wikipedia.org http://stu.findlaw.com/?lid=students_button