1. The Role of the Federal Courts
Ch. 10
Sec. 1 Pp

2. Laws and Courts
Judicial branch = Supreme Court and over 100 other federal courts
Least influenced by public opinion

3. What Courts Do Interpret and apply the law
Criminal – guilt or innocence and punishment
Prosecutor brings case
Civil – settle a disagreement
Plaintiff brings case, defendant answers case
Federal courts hear civil and criminal cases

4. What Courts Do Judge applies the law
Jury decides the facts of the case

5. State Courts and Federal Courts
Most cases begin at state level
Jurisdiction – who gets to hear case first
You can appeal decision to a higher court
Appeals court reviews legal issues and makes a decision

6. Questions What makes up the judicial branch of the federal government?
the Supreme Court and the federal courts
judges and state legislatures
the President and his staff
Congress

7. Questions How can a precedent help a judge make a decision?
The judge may find an earlier case similar to the current case
A judge may use a precedent to question people not part of the case.
A judge may use a precedent to discuss a current political issue
The judge may use a precedent to keep secrets from lawyers

8. Questions
Who is the defendant in this case: The People of the State of Florida v. Jones?
The People
the government
The State of Florida
Jones

9. Questions Both sides in a court case are called the Parties
Prosecutions
Plaintiffs
judges.

10. Questions Who can decide the facts in a case? the accused the jury
the conflict
the lawyers

11. Questions What is true about federal courts?
There can be no appeal from a federal court
A federal court may hear a civil or a criminal case
Each community has its own federal court
The only federal court is the U.S. Supreme Court