The Court System Lessons CHAPTER 4 4/1/2017 Chapter 4 CHAPTER 4 The Court System Lessons 4-1 Dispute Resolution and the Courts 4-2 Federal Court System 4-3 State Court Systems

Dispute Resolution and the Courts CHAPTER 4 4/1/2017 Chapter 4 LESSON 4-1 Dispute Resolution and the Courts GOALS Explain how disputes can be settled without resort to the courts Name the different levels of courts and describe their powers

Chapter 4 Hot Debate Anthony Destin – hired by Berentinos at the same time as co-worker, Sarah. Anthony have five years more experience than Sarah

CAN DISPUTES BE RESOLVED PRIVATELY? Chapter 4 CAN DISPUTES BE RESOLVED PRIVATELY? Litigate – to resolve disputes in court Litigation is time-consuming and expensive Mediation – attempt by a neutral third party to achieve a compromise between two parties in a dispute Arbitration – informal hearing to determine what happened

Chapter 4 MEDIATION Mediator tries to develop a solution acceptable to both sides of the dispute. The actions of a mediator are advisory — not binding.

Chapter 4 ARBITRATION An arbitrator usually holds an informal hearing to determine what happened. The arbitrator’s decision is binding on both parties. The decision can be enforced by court order if necessary.

DIFFERENT LEVELS OF COURTS Chapter 4 DIFFERENT LEVELS OF COURTS Trial courts Appellate courts

TRIAL COURTS A trial court is the first court to hear a dispute. Chapter 4 TRIAL COURTS A trial court is the first court to hear a dispute. A trial court has original jurisdiction over a case.

TRIAL COURTS (cont’d) Consists of judge and lawyers Consists of: Chapter 4 TRIAL COURTS (cont’d) Consists of judge and lawyers Consists of: Clerks – enter cases on the court calendar, keep records of proceedings, compute courts costs Sheriffs/Bailiffs – summon witnesses, keep order in court, and take steps to carry out judgements

Chapter 4 APPELLATE COURTS An appellate court reviews decisions of lower courts when a party claims an error was made during the previous proceeding. Appellate courts are concerned with errors of law rather than questions of fact Appellate courts DO NOT hear witnesses and generally do not except new evidence

APPELLATE COURTS (cont’d) Chapter 4 APPELLATE COURTS (cont’d) Examine transcript – a verbatim record of what went on at trial Read appellate briefs – written arguments on the issues of law These are submitted by opposing attorneys

POSSIBLE APPELLATE COURT DECISIONS Chapter 4 POSSIBLE APPELLATE COURT DECISIONS Affirm (uphold) the decision of the lower court Reverse (overturn) the decision of the lower court Amend (change) the decision of the lower court Remand the case—send it back to the trial court for corrective action or possibly a new trial.

Federal Court System GOALS LESSON 4-2 Chapter 4 LESSON 4-2 Federal Court System GOALS Identify the source of power of the federal courts Name the various levels of federal courts and describe their jurisdictions

ORIGINS OF OUR FEDERAL COURT SYSTEM Chapter 4 ORIGINS OF OUR FEDERAL COURT SYSTEM Federal courts received their power from the Constitution. Article III - The Constitution granted Congress the power to establish inferior courts, as needed, to the U.S. Supreme Court. also confers the power to judge certain criminal and civil matters in federal courts

FEDERAL COURT SYSTEM United States Supreme Court State Supreme Courts Chapter 4 FEDERAL COURT SYSTEM United States Supreme Court State Supreme Courts Specialized Federal Courts Many Federal Agencies United States District Courts 13 United States Courts of Appeals (12 Circuit Courts) (1 Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit)

JURISDICTION OF THE FEDERAL COURTS Chapter 4 JURISDICTION OF THE FEDERAL COURTS 3 Levels of Federal courts have general jurisdiction – can hear almost any kind of case Federal District Courts Federal Courts of Appeals U.S. Supreme Court Special jurisdiction – hears only one specific type of case

JURISDICTION OF THE FEDERAL COURTS Chapter 4 JURISDICTION OF THE FEDERAL COURTS Federal District Courts Lowest level of federal court with general jurisdiction Trial court of the federal system Original jurisdictions over: Federal questions that arise under the Constitution Lawsuits between cities of different states, between a U.S. citizen and a foreign nation, or between a U.S. citizen and a citizen of a foreign nation

FEDERAL COURTS OF APPEALS Chapter 4 FEDERAL COURTS OF APPEALS Appellate jurisdiction over: District courts Federal administrative agencies No appellate court, not even the USSC, can change the factual determinations of a jury

FEDERAL COURTS OF APPEALS (cont’d) Chapter 4 FEDERAL COURTS OF APPEALS (cont’d) 13 Federal courts of appeal 12 are circuit courts – responsible for an assigned geographic area 13th is dedicated to the “federal circuit” Handles patent cases appealed out of the district court Handles appeals from federal courts with special jurisdiction

Chapter 4 FEDERAL COURTS

U.S. SUPREME COURT Both original and appellate jurisdiction Chapter 4 U.S. SUPREME COURT Both original and appellate jurisdiction Original jurisdiction handles: Cases affecting ambassadors Public ministers and consuls Most important is it’s exercise of appellate jurisdiction Cases on appeals from the U.S. Court of Appeals Highest courts of the various states.

U.S. SUPREME COURT (cont’d) Chapter 4 U.S. SUPREME COURT (cont’d) Writ of certiorari – compels the state court to turn over the record of the case to the Supreme Court for review Jurisdiction over state supreme court cases is limited Federal question must arise based on a federal law or on the U.S. Constitution Decisions made by the USSC are final and can only be overturned by the USSC or by an amendment to the Constitution

State Court Systems GOALS LESSON 4-3 Chapter 4 LESSON 4-3 State Court Systems GOALS Compare the structure of a typical state court with the structure of the federal courts Identify state courts of specialized jurisdiction Discuss the jurisdiction of the various typical state courts

STRUCTURE OF STATE COURT SYSTEMS Chapter 4 STRUCTURE OF STATE COURT SYSTEMS State trial courts State courts of appeals State supreme courts

Chapter 4 STATE TRIAL COURTS General original jurisdiction over both criminal and civil matters – circuit court Some other states may refer to them as superior courts, district courts, or courts of common pleas These all represent a court of record – an exact account of what goes on at trial

STATE TRIAL COURTS (cont’d) Chapter 4 STATE TRIAL COURTS (cont’d) Review decisions of courts of more specialized jurisdiction under them They can retry cases to make a proper record Original jurisdiction

STATE COURTS OF APPEALS Chapter 4 STATE COURTS OF APPEALS Usually consists of no more than three judges No new evidence can be introduced Similar to Federal Appellate court

Chapter 4 STATE SUPREME COURTS A panel of three or more justices reviews the legal issues and listens to the attorneys’ oral arguments Issue the final decision on matters of law appealed to them unless the U.S. Constitution or other federal issues are involved. Original jurisdiction over state impeachment cases

A TYPICAL STATE COURT SYSTEM Chapter 4 A TYPICAL STATE COURT SYSTEM Supreme Court Family Court Probate Court Criminal Court Juvenile Court Municipal Court Justice’s Court (The Court of a Justice of the Peace) Small Claims Court Trial Court (Of Original General Jurisdiction) Intermediate Appeals Court (In Populous States)

STATE COURTS WITH SPECIALIZED JURISDICTION Chapter 4 STATE COURTS WITH SPECIALIZED JURISDICTION Associate circuit courts City or municipal courts Small claims courts Juvenile courts Probate courts

ASSOCIATE CIRCUIT COURTS Chapter 4 ASSOCIATE CIRCUIT COURTS Minor criminal cases State traffic offenses Lawsuits in which small amounts are involved (no more than $25,000)

CITY OR MUNICIPAL COURTS Chapter 4 CITY OR MUNICIPAL COURTS Divided into traffic and criminal divisions Ordinances are not considered criminal laws Only state and federal governments can make an act criminal

Chapter 4 SMALL CLAIMS COURTS Handle cases involving small amounts ($2,500 or less) Attorneys are not required Judge hears case without a jury or formal evidence Decisions can be appealed to circuit courts

Chapter 4 Juvenile Court