1. 3/10/2016 1 The Federal Court System: An Introductory Guide For Mr. Brady’s Awesome Class

2. 3/10/2016 2 The Courts’ Role in the Federal System The United States Constitution establishes three separate, co-equal branches of government, each with its own special, enumerated powers: –The Legislative Branch (Congress) creates new laws and amends existing laws; –The Executive Branch (the President) enforces the laws passed by Congress; and –The Judicial Branch (the Federal Courts) interprets the laws passed by Congress and limits excessive exercise of the Executive Branch’s enforcement authority.

3. 3/10/2016 3 What are the Federal Courts? The Federal Court System is the dispute resolution arm of the federal government. Federal Courts are courts of limited jurisdiction, meaning that they can only decide the types of cases that are enumerated in Article III of the Constitution.

4. 3/10/2016 4 Subject Matter Jurisdiction of Federal Courts Federal Courts are limited to those types of cases over which they have subject matter jurisdiction: –Cases arising under the Constitution or Federal law (Federal Question Cases); –Cases in which the Federal Government is a party; –Cases between two or more states, or between citizens of different states (Diversity Cases); –Cases involving foreign countries.

5. 3/10/2016 5 Organization: The District Courts When a District Court hears a case, a decision is rendered either by a judge (in a bench trial) or by a jury (in a jury trial). The parties to the case then have the right to appeal the District Court decision to the Circuit Court of Appeals within which the District Court is located.

6. 3/10/2016 6 Organization: The Circuit Courts of Appeal The Circuit Courts are the intermediate appellate courts in the Federal Court System. There are 12 Circuit Courts in the Federal System, each with specific geographic boundaries.

7. 3/10/2016 7 Organization: The Circuit Courts From www.uscourts.gov

8. 3/10/2016 8 Organization: The Circuit Courts After it reviews the record of the case, and hears argument from both sides, the Circuit Court will render a decision.

9. 3/10/2016 9 Organization: The Circuit Courts When it renders its decision, the Circuit Court will either: –Affirm the decision of the District Court (i.e. let it stand); –Modify the decision of the District Court; or –Reverse the decision of the District Court and/or Remand the case back to the District Court for reconsideration in light of the Circuit Court’s opinion. Either party can thereafter appeal the Circuit Court decision to the U.S. Supreme Court.

10. 3/10/2016 10 Organization of the Federal Courts The U.S. Supreme Court, based in Washington D.C., is the highest court in the Federal System. Its decisions are not subject to appeal. The Supreme Court consists of nine justices

11. 3/10/2016 11 Questions?