Chapter 8 Sect 2 Mr. Plude

Federal District Courts The 94 federal court districts handle more than 300,000 cases per year.

Federal District Courts The Jurisdiction of District Courts Constitution, foreign governments, residents of different states Federal violations: from violation of employment laws to kidnapping grand juries citizen jury to decide if enough evidence to proceed to trial bankruptcy court separate court

Federal District Courts Court Officials Judge is court’s highest official; judges instruct juries about law, make sure proper trial procedures are followed Magistrate judges oversee early hearings in criminal trials, also hear civil cases or minor criminal cases called misdemeanours Clerks of the court handle non-judicial tasks, maintaining records

Federal District Courts {continued} Other Courtroom Officials Each federal court district has a U.S. attorney to represent the U.S. government. U.S. attorneys prosecute individuals charged with federal crimes. Public defenders are lawyers appointed by court to represent defendants who lack money to hire their own. U.S. marshals provide security and police protection at federal courthouses.

Federal Courts of Appeals Purpose of the Courts of Appeals Appeals courts: middle tier in hierarchy of federal court system Hear cases on appeal from district courts within their circuit Few appeals succeed

Federal Courts of Appeals Appeals Court Procedure Appeals heard by panel of judges, reviews court record and reads briefs (argument of attorney) appeals courts rely on facts of original case, do not retry Burden of proof lies with appellant; cases mostly overturned only when improper procedure was followed

Federal Courts of Appeals Appeals Court Ruling Court’s ruling usually stands occasionally reviewed by larger panel of judges returned to district court for more hearings Returned for retrial

Federal Courts of Appeals The Federal Circuit Court of Appeals for Federal Circuit nationwide appellate jurisdiction Patents Trademarks government contracts international trade

Sequencing The path by which a case travels through a court of appeals The appellant shows that the original ruling was based on a legal mistake. Court reviews of trial court record reads briefs submitted may hear oral arguments. Government presents case The court rules The case stands, sent back to district court, review by the U.S. Supreme Court.

Other Federal Courts U.S. Court of International Trade Hears cases involving laws and rules of international trade

Other Federal Courts U.S. Tax Court Hears cases involving federal tax disputes

Other Federal Courts U.S. Court of Federal Claims Hears cases involving disputes over veterans’ benefits

Other Federal Courts The Federal Circuit Hears cases involving claims over $10,000 owed by U.S. government. United States has sovereign immunity Cannot be sued without it’s permission In some circumstances the government can be sued

Other Federal Courts {continued} U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces Hears cases involving appeals from courts-martial, or military courts National Security Courts Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court reviews requests to spy on “agents of a foreign power” in U.S. Alien Terrorist Removal Court reviews requests to remove suspected terrorists from U.S.

Other Federal Courts {continued} Military Commissions Outside normal judicial system, rulings may be challenged in federal court Washington, D.C., and Territorial Courts (Guam, Puerto Rico) Congress created trial and appellate courts in locations outside federal system

Advice is Free “There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self.”