The Courts – Federal Court System Objective: Identify the source of power of the federal courts Name the various levels of federal courts and describe their jurisdictions Bellwork: What is a federal court?

 The people conferred the power to judge certain criminal and civil matters on a system of federal courts:  Section 1. The Judicial Power of the United States shall be vested in one Supreme Court, and in such inferior Courts as the Congress may from time to time ordain and establish.

 About a century AFTER the passing of the Federal Judiciary Act, Congress established the federal district courts.  They also created special courts for things like taxes or bankruptcy.

 Currently there are three levels of federal courts with general jurisdiction (a court with general jurisdiction can hear almost any kind of case. A court with special jurisdiction hears only one specific type of case)  Federal District Courts  Federal Courts of Appeals  U.S. Supreme Court

 Lowest level of federal court with general jurisdiction.  Trial court of the federal system  Determines the facts and to make initial determinations of the law to decide case.  Generally, have original jurisdiction over a) Federal questions (cases that arise under the Constitution or US law) b) Lawsuits between citizens of different states, or US citizens and other nations

 The federal court of appeals have appellate jurisdiction over district courts, certain specialized federal courts, and many federal administrative agencies.  Either side can appeal  No new evidence or witnesses (no appellate court, not even the Supreme Court can change the determination of the jury)

 There are 13 Federal Courts of Appeal  12 circuit courts, each responsible for a geographic area.  The 13th is dedicated to the federal circuit and handles: ▪ Patent cases appealed out of district court ▪ Appeals from federal courts with special jurisdiction ▪ Case from bodies such as the International Trade Commission.

 The Supreme Court has both original and appellate jurisdiction.  Original jurisdiction over cases affecting ambassadors, public ministers, and consults in which as state shall be party  Most important is the appellate jurisdiction ▪ Cases from the highest courts of the various states ▪ Jurisdiction over state supreme courts is limited to those in which a federal question has arisen.  Decisions by the USSC are FINAL and can only be overturned by the USSC itself and constitutional amendment.

 If the Supreme Court believes that a case contains a constitutional issue of sufficient issue they will issue a writ of certiorari to the last court that heard the case.  This writ compels the state court to turn over the record of the case to the Supreme Court for review.

United States Supreme Court 13 United States Courts of Appeals United States District Court Many Federal Agencies Specialized Federal Courts State Supreme Courts State Trial Courts