1. Criminal Law vs. Civil Law
Criminal Law – Government vs. Individual
Involves jail time and or fines
Civil Law-Individual vs. Individual
Involves lawsuits to settle disputes.

2. Trial Court vs. Appeals Court
Trial courts- These courts address the issue of innocence or guilt.
Appeal courts-Deal with the rule of law and ask the basic question, “Did the accused receive a fair trial.”

3. Federal Court Cases Constitutional law issues
Disagreements between states
Lawsuits between citizens of different states.
When the U.S. Government sues a citizen or a citizen sues the U.S. Government.
Maritime Law
Cases involving U.S. Diplomats
Criminal acts that violate federal law.
Disputes between the foreign government and either the U.S. Government or an American private party.

4. The Eleven U.S. Circuits

5. Federal Courts the Numbers
Total Number of Judgeships
Supreme Court 9
Court of Appeals
179
District Courts
677
Court of International Trade
TOTAL
874

6. The Federal Court System
Congress set up three levels in the federal court system.
District Court
Original Jurisdiction, the authority to hear the case for the first time.
They hear both civil and criminal cases
They are the only courts that use witnesses and juries

7. U.S. Court of Appeals These courts have Appellate jurisdiction.
Review cases from lower district courts.
They do not hold trials. Instead, a panel of judges reviews the case records and listens to arguments from lawyers on both sides.
The judges may decide in one of three ways; uphold the original decision, reverse the decision, or remand the case-send it back to the lower court to be tried again.

8. U.S. Supreme Court
Ultimate appellate jurisdiction for both federal courts and state courts.
Judicial review, allows the supreme court to interpret and or strike down any law that it feels violates the principles of the constitution.

9. U.S. District Court Judges from Wyoming
Cheyenne:
JUDGE CLARENCE A. BRIMMER
JUDGE ALAN B. JOHNSON
Casper:
JUDGE WILLIAM F. DOWNES

10. Federal Courts in Wyoming
Wyoming, Utah, Colorado, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Kansas, and some of Texas are in the 10th Circuit.
Offices are located in Casper and Cheyenne.

11. 10th Circuit Court of Appeals
The Byron White U.S. Court House Denver, CO 80257
All appeals from the 10th Circuit are heard in Denver Colorado by a panel of 3 Judges.

12. Joseph C. O’Mahoney Federal Center Cheyenne

13. Ewing T. Kerr Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse, Casper

14. Back Row: Sonia Sotomayor , Stephen Breyer, Samuel A
Back Row: Sonia Sotomayor , Stephen Breyer, Samuel A. Alito, Elena Kagan,
Front Row: Clarence Thomas, Antonin Scalia, John G. Roberts, Jr., Anthony Kennedy, Ruth Bader Ginsburg

15. Chief Justice John Roberts
Appointed by President George W. Bush 2005
Born 1955 Harvard Law School, Roman Catholic

16. Justice Antonin Scalia
Appointed by President Ronald Reagan 1986
Born 1936, Harvard Law, Roman Catholic

17. Justice Anthony Kennedy
Appointed by President Ronald Reagan 1988
Born 1936, Harvard Law, Roman Catholic

18. Justice Clarence Thomas
Appointed by President George H. Bush 1991
Born 1948, Yale, Roman Catholic

19. Justice Ruth Bader-Ginsburg
Appointed by President William Clinton 1993
Born 1933, Columbia/Harvard, Jewish

20. Justice Stephen Breyer
Appointed by President William Clinton 1994
Born 1938, Harvard Law, Jewish

21. Justice Samuel Alito Appointed by President George W. Bush 2006
Born 1950 , Yale Law, Roman Catholic

22. Justice Sonia Sotomayor
Appointed by President Barack Obama 2009
Born 1954, Yale Law, Roman Catholic

23. Justice Elena Kagan Appointed by President Barack Obama 2010
Born 1960, Harvard Law, Jewish