The United States Court System Dual Court System

The United States Court System

Dual Court System • Separate Judicial Court System for each state and a separate federal system – Federal Courts – State and Local Courts

Federal Courts Established by the U. S. Constitution • Jurisdiction is limited – U. S. Constitutional law – U. S. Federal law • Bankruptcy • Copyrights • Patents

State Courts Established by the individual states • Include state and local courts • Jurisdiction is broad – Cases citizens are involved in • • Criminal violations Traffic violations Broken contracts Family disputes

Dual Court System United States Supreme Court Appellate Court Of Last Resort Intermediate Courts Of Appeals U. S. Circuit Courts Of Appeals Courts of General Jurisdiction U. S. District Courts of Limited Jurisdiction

What’s the difference? ? Jurisdiction: The courts authority to hear and decide cases • Original jurisdiction – Authority to hear a case when it is first brought to court • Appellate jurisdiction – Authority to review a case for errors of law • General jurisdiction – Authority to hear any type of case

Federal Court System • Authority • Established by the U. S. Constitution (Article III) • U. S. District Courts • U. S. Circuit Courts of Appeal • U. S. Supreme Court

United States Supreme Court U. S. Court Of Appeals 12 Circuits 95 U. S. District Courts United States Tax Court U. S. Court Of Appeals Federal Circuit U. S. Courts of International Trade United States Claims Courts U. S. Court Of Military Appeals U. S. Courts of Veterans Appeals Armed Services Courts of Military Review

U. S. District Courts • Trial courts of the Federal Government • Court of original jurisdiction • Violations of federal crime and civil law – First adjudicated – Decisions of facts are made – 13 circuits throughout the United States • 94 federal district courts

U. S. District Courts Jurisdiction • Federal laws • Treaties with foreign nations • Interpretations of the U. S. Constitution

U. S. District Courts Presided over by a district court judge – Appointed by the President – Confirmed by the Senate – Serve on the bench for life • • May resign May be impeached and convicted by Congress

U. S. District Courts in Georgia • Georgia Northern District Court – Atlanta--Gainesville--Newnan--Rome • Georgia Middle District Court – Macon--Albany--Athens--Columbus--Valdosta • Georgia Southern District Court – Savannah--Augusta--Brunswick

U. S. District Courts (Georgia) Georgia Northern District Court Atlanta Georgia Northern District Court Gainesville Georgia Northern District Court Newnan Georgia Northern District Court Rome Georgia Middle District Court Macon Georgia Middle District Court Albany Georgia Middle District Court Athens Georgia Middle District Court Columbus Georgia Middle District Court Valdosta Georgia Southern District Court Savannah Georgia Southern District Court Augusta Georgia Southern District Court Brunswick

U. S. Courts of Appeal • Court of Appeals – Hears appeals of verdicts from U. S. District Courts – Created in 1891 • To reduce load on the U. S. Supreme Court – Primary role is to ensure trial court correctly interpreted and applied the law – Cannot refuse to hear a case • 13 -U. S. Circuit courts of appeals – 11 Districts – District of Columbia – Federal District • Atlanta – 11 th District Court of Appeals

U. S. Courts of Appeal • Hears appeals from the U. S. District Courts • Created in 1891 –Reduce the burden on the U. S. Supreme Court • Appellate Jurisdiction ONLY –Reviews cases for errors of law…not fact. –Appeal to the court is a matter of right!! • Cannot refuse to hear an appeal • Primary role is to ensure trial court correctly interpreted and applied the law

U. S. Courts of Appeal 13 U. S. Circuit Courts of Appeals – 11 Districts – District of Columbia – Federal District • Atlanta – 11 th District Court of Appeals

U. S. Circuit/District Court Map 1 st Circuit · 2 nd Circuit · 3 rd Circuit · 4 th Circuit · 5 th Circuit · 6 th Circuit · 7 th Circuit · 8 th Circuit · 9 th Circuit · 10 th Circuit · 11 th Circuit · DC Circuit · Federal Circuit

U. S. Court of Appeals 11 th Circuit Jurisdiction • Federal cases originating in • Alabama • Florida • Georgia

U. S. Supreme Court • Has original jurisdiction in limited cases – State v. State issues • Primary task is to hear appeals from the U. S. courts of appeal

U. S. Supreme Court • Nine Justices – One Chief Justice – Eight Associate Justices • Appointed by the President • Congressional Approval – Tenure is for life – Good Behavior

U. S. Supreme Court Current Court (7) Men (2) Women Chief Justice-John Roberts Associate Justices John Paul Stevens Anthony Kennedy Ruth Bader Ginsburg (1) African American (1) Hispanic Antonin Scalia Clarence Thomas Sonia Sotomayor Steven Breyer Samuel Alito

U. S. Supreme Court Four Justices must vote to hear a case Writ of certiorari A written order from the U. S. Supreme Court To a lower court whose decision is being appealed Send the records of the case for review Only if… Defendant has exhausted all other avenues of appeal Case involves a “ substantial federal question” An alleged violation of either the U. S. Constitution or Federal Law

U. S. Supreme Court • Decision – Affirm the decision of the lower court • Agree with • Let it stand – Reverse the decision of the lower court • Remand the decision • Return the case to the court of original jurisdiction