1. Chapter 8 Sect 2
Mr. Plude

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

4. 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

5. 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

7. 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.

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

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

14. 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.

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

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

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

18. 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

20. 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.

21. 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

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