1. Bellwork Let’s review for the quiz: 1. What is the purpose of the Constitution? 2. What does “amended” mean? 3. What are ethics and morals? 4. In your opinion, if you had to choose the most important amendment in the Bill of Rights, which ONE would it be and why? Did you know? In Hong Kong, a betrayed wife is legally allowed to kill her adulterous husband. Although she may only do this with her bare hands.

2. Bellwork You may need to open up your book to chapter 2- page 28, to help answer these questions: 1. What is the highest court in the U.S. called? 2. What does “jurisdiction” mean? 3. If called to be a juror, known as a “jury summons”, are you obligated by law to go? Did you know? In St. Louis, Missouri, it is illegal for a fireman to rescue a woman if she is wearing only a nightgown. In order for her to be rescued, she must be fully clothed. He himself must be in official fireman's uniform.

3. Bellwork Let’s revisit some of the questions I asked you on your last assignment… 1. Should prayer be allowed in public schools? Why or why not? 2. Do you think that it is fair that women would not be drafted if the draft were reinstated? Why or why not? 3. Do you think that it is fair that female soldiers cannot be on the front lines of war? Why or why not? 4. Do you agree with the no smoking ban in food establishments in Michigan? Why or why not? Did you know? In McLough, Kansas, it is illegal to wash your false teeth in a public drinking fountain.

4. The court system Via a nautical theme…

5. A Tale of Two Cases How do you know if a case will be a federal case or a state case? Freddy FederalState Court Sam

6. A Tale of Two Cases The federal system deals with cases about laws that apply to the whole United States. Freddy Federal Some examples might be: Disputes about the Constitution Disputes about immigration Disputes about a U.S. law Time for word scramble #2!

7. A Tale of Two Cases A state ’ s court system only deals with laws from that state. State Court Sam Some examples might be: Disputes about property Disputes about accidents Prosecuting someone for a crime Time for word scramble #3!

8. A Tale of Two Cases Both Freddy Federal and State Court Sam live in the State of Hawaii. Aloha! State Court Sam Freddy Federal

9. A Tale of Two Cases Freddy FederalState Court Sam Hey Freddy! Let ’ s go to court together!

10. A Tale of Two Cases Hawaii has its own state courts that deal with Hawaii ’ s laws. State Court Sam Time for word scramble #5!

11. A Tale of Two Cases Hawaii has its own trial courts... State Court Sam In Hawaii, there are different kinds of trial courts with different names. If you go to the website for your state ’ s judiciary, it will tell you what your state ’ s trial courts are called. That ’ s where I ’ ll start—in a state trial court!

12. A Tale of Two Cases And its own Court of Appeals... State Court Sam In Hawaii, this is called the Intermediate Court of Appeals. Your state might have a different name for its Court of Appeals. If I lose in the trial court, I ’ ll bring my case here!

13. A Tale of Two Cases And its own Supreme Court! State Court Sam Your state might call its highest court by a different name. I hope I win before I get this far! Time for word scramble #6!

14. Michigan State Court System District Court Approximately 100 in Michigan Limited jurisdiction Authority of a court to hear only one particular type of case, minor matters Most traffic violations/tickets All civil cases with claims up to $25,000 Landlord-tenant issues Misdemeanor criminal cases Small claims cases (property damage, etc)

15. Circuit Court 57 Circuit Courts in Michigan Broadest powers in Michigan Authority of a court to hear a wide range of cases Types of cases: All civil cases with claims of more than $25,000 All felony criminal cases Appeals from trial courts or from administrative agencies Family division handles: divorce, paternity, adoptions, personal protection actions, emancipation of minors, name changes, juvenile offenses and delinquency, child abuse and neglect Friend of the court division: handles domestic relations cases where minor children are involved Michigan State Court System

16. Michigan Court of Appeals Currently 24 judges ( elected or appointed) These courts hear appeals from courts of general jurisdiction These appeals may be made if the parties believe they did not have a fair trail in the lower court or that the judge did not properly interpret the law They hear appeals only on questions of law, not on questions of fact Instead of hearing witnesses, appeals judges hear oral arguments from attorney and study the documents and records in the case Judges are randomly assigned to panels to sit in all courtroom locations (3 locations: Detroit, Lansing, and Grand Rapids… they will also travel to Marquette and the northern Lower Peninsula in the spring and fall)

17. Michigan State Court System Michigan Supreme Court Michigan’s court of last resort 7 justices Receives about 2,000 applications for appeal every year The Supreme Court’s authority to hear cases is discretionary Only look at matters of LAW, not opinion The case is NOT retried!!

18. A Tale of Two Cases Freddy will take his case through the federal court system. Hawaii Time for word scramble #4!

19. A Tale of Two Cases What about me? I live in Hawaii. Do I go to court in Hawaii too? Freddy Federal (What do you think? Are there any federal courts in Hawaii? Hint: This is another yes or no question!)

20. A Tale of Two Cases YES! My federal case will start right here in the District Court. Freddy Federal Every state has at least one U. S. District Court. Yours does too! Time for word scramble #7!

21. Hold on… If the U.S. District Court is not part of Hawaii ’ s court system, why do you think there is a U. S. District Court in Hawaii? Help Freddy understand what ’ s going on. (U.S. District Courts are the trial courts for the federal system. Lots of people go there! It would make things difficult if people had to travel very far to find a U. S. District Court.)

22. The United States circuit courts 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 Time for word scramble #9!

23. Pop Quiz! How many circuits are there? That wasn ’ t so hard. 11

24. The United States circuit courts There is at least one Court of Appeals in each circuit.

25. What if a state has no U.S. Court of appeals? Not every state has a U.S. Court of Appeals. Often, people must travel to get to the place where their Circuit Court of Appeals usually sits. However, sometimes the Court will travel, too! The Court in most circuits will spend a few days a year in places away from its usual locations.

26. A Tale of Two Cases That means I can go to a U.S. Court of Appeals in Hawaii! Freddy Federal Not so fast, Freddy...

27. An important note about the traveling court… The 9 th Circuit calendar for 2010 includes only 8 days in Hawaii! That means, most likely, Freddy will have to travel if he wants to take his case to the U.S. Court of Appeals. 8 days

28. A Tale of Two Cases OK—enough of this Court of Appeals stuff. What if I want to go to the United States Supreme Court? Freddy Federal Now you ’ ll have to travel for sure...

29. The Supreme Court of the United States Washington, D.C. Time for word scramble #11!

30. The Supreme Court of the United States Washington, D.C. Supreme Court Motto: “ Have Court, Won ’ t Travel. ” * * This is not the actual Supreme Court motto. Traveling Court The Supreme Court only sits in one location. Time for word scramble #12!

31. A Tale of Two Cases Certiorari! Freddy Federal If Freddy wants to go to the Supreme Court, he will get to learn a fun new word: Say it: SUR – show – RAH – ree That ’ s the Supreme Court ’ s power to choose which cases it wants to hear. If the Court does not choose Freddy ’ s case, then Freddy ’ s case is over! Time for word scramble #13!

32. We interrupt this tale to ask a very important question: If State Court Sam wants to take his case to the Hawaii Supreme Court, do you think the Court can choose whether to hear his case? Remember me?

33. The Hawaii Supreme Court gets to choose which cases it wants to hear, just like the U.S. Supreme Court does. This is true in most states. And the answer is… I hope they take my case!

34. Meet Freddy Federal ’ s sister, Freida Federal! Freida lives in Florida. A tale of THREE cases! Florida

35. A tale of THREE cases! 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 Florida is in the 11 th Circuit. Florida

36. Frieda has a federal case, too! A tale of THREE cases! Florida (11 th Circuit) Hawaii (9 th Circuit) Freddy FederalFreida Federal

37. If Freddy brings his case to the 9 th Circuit Court of Appeals, and Frieda brings hers to the 11 th Circuit Court of Appeals, do you think the cases will always turn out the same? A tale of THREE cases! Florida (11 th Circuit) Hawaii (9 th Circuit) Freddy FederalFreida Federal

38. A tale of THREE cases! Florida (11 th Circuit) Hawaii (9 th Circuit) Usually the results will be very similar, but not always! Sometimes two circuits will make very different decisions about the same issue. When that happens, it ’ s called a “ circuit split. ”

39. A tale of THREE cases! (11 th Circuit) (9 th Circuit) When there is a circuit split, the Supreme Court will often hear a case to resolve the difference. The Supreme Court likes it best when all the circuits agree! Time for word scramble #14!

40. Meet State Court Sally! Sally is State Court Sam ’ s cousin, and she lives in South Carolina. A tale of FOUR cases! South Carolina

41. Sally has a case in state court, too! A tale of FOUR cases! South Carolina Hawaii State Court Sam State Court Sally

42. A tale of FOUR cases! South Carolina Hawaii State Court Sam State Court Sally If Sam brings his case to the Hawaii Supreme Court, and Sally brings hers to the South Carolina Supreme Court, do you think the cases will turn out the same?

43. A tale of FOUR cases! Hawaii Sometimes they might, but sometimes they will not. The Hawaii state court system is totally separate from the South Carolina court system! Every state has different laws, and every state ’ s courts are free to make their own decisions. South Carolina Time for word scramble #15!

44. Tim and Moby… The Court System explained in 3 1/2 minutes The Court System explained in 3 1/2 minutes Tim and Moby explain it a little bit different than me. Be sure to take notes on new information! Not enough room on the front? Use the back.

45. Review It! Name the two court systems! 1)State court system 2)Federal court system Got it!

46. Review It! The U.S. Court of Appeals is divided into regions called: It ’ s practically a giveaway! A. Areas B. Districts C. Circuits

47. Review It! Where can you find a District Court? You know this one! A. There ’ s one in every circuit B. There ’ s at least one in every state C. There ’ s one on every corner

48. Review It! If your case is in a District Court in the 3 rd Circuit, you can appeal to a U.S. Court of Appeals in the: Check the numbers! A. 1 st Circuit B. 2 nd Circuit C. 3 rd Circuit D. Any of the above!

49. Review It! True or false: If you can ’ t make it to the Supreme Court, they ’ ll come to you! Remember the motto? True False

50. Review It! A circuit court split is what happens when: I love a good circuit split on a hot day! A. There is a huge earthquake B. Two circuits disagree on the same issue C. You put a circuit between two halves of a banana with ice cream

51. Review It! Once Freddy starts in Hawaii ’ s court system, will his case ever end up in a South Carolina state court? A.Yes B.No I think I can guess the answer…