1. Interpretation of laws
Judicial Branch
Interpretation of laws

2. vocabulary Jurisdiction Exclusive jurisdiction Concurrent jurisdiction
District court
Appeals court
Remand
Opinion
Precedent
Judicial review
Constitutional
Brief
Majority opinion
Concurring opinion
Dissenting opinion
Unanimous opinion
Stare Decisis

3. District Courts
Lowest level of the federal court system. This is where most lawsuits begin.
Original jurisdiction: Authority to hear cases for the first time.
Only courts with jury trials.
Each state has at least one district court.
90% of all court cases are in district courts.

4. Court Officials
Judges: Decide procedure and punishment. Appointed by the president and approved by the Senate. They earn $162,100. No political pressure because they can not be removed without reason.
Magistrate: Issue court orders and take care of pre-trial matters. Appointed for eight years by federal judges. They earn $149,132.
US Attorney: Prove that a suspect is guilty.
Marshal: Arrest suspects, brings defendants to court, and serves subpoenas - order requiring a person to appear in court.

5. Court of Appeals
Appellate jurisdiction: Hear only cases that have been appealed from district courts.
Circuit: Geographic area an appeals court has jurisdiction in.
There are twelve judicial circuits.

6. Circuit court judges
Each appeals court has from 6-27 judges. They earn $171,800 a year.
A panel of at least three judges will hear each case.
The court may:
1. Uphold the earlier ruling.
2. Overturn the decision.
3. Remand the case to a lower court for a new ruling.
Some cases will be appealed to the Supreme Court.

7. Looking for Federal District Judge!
The President is looking has openings for Federal District Judge appointments. Write an employment ad for a federal district judge. Use complete sentences. Include a job description, benefits, and qualifications you believe they should have.
Use your notes and pages of your book

8. Review What is the lowest level of the federal court system?
Which is the only court with jury trials?
What is an order requiring a person to appear in court?
What is appellate jurisdiction?
How many judicial circuits are there?
What are the 3 things a circuit court judge can do with a case?

9. Supreme Court
Original jurisdiction involving diplomats/ambassadors from foreign countries or issues between two states or between states and the federal government
Appellate jurisdiction on everything else.
Normally hear cases that involve constitutional questions or are of public interest.
Decisions can not be appealed.

10. Supreme Court Justices
There are nine justices (1 chief and 8 associate).
Associate justices receive $199,200 and the Chief justice receives $208,100.
1967, Thurgood Marshall became the first African-American justice.
1981, Sandra Day O’Connor became the first female justice.

11. The Supreme Court Justices

12. Chief Justice John Roberts
Appointed by George W. Bush
Senate Confirmation:
September 29, 2005– present
DOB: January 27, 1955

13. Justice Anthony Kennedy
Appointed by Ronald Reagan
Senate Confirmation: 97-0
February 18, 1988– present
DOB: July 23, 1936

14. Justice Clarence Thomas
Appointed by George H. W. Bush
Senate Confirmation:
October 23, 1991– present
DOB: June 23, 1948

15. Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg
Appointed by Bill Clinton
Senate Confirmation: 96-3
August 10, 1993– present
DOB: March 15, 1933

16. Justice Steven Breyer Appointed by Bill Clinton
Senate Confirmation: 87-9
August 3, 1994– present
DOB: August 15, 1938

17. Justice Samuel Alito Appointed by George W. Bush
Senate Confirmation:
January 31, 2006– present
DOB: April 1, 1950

18. Justice Sonia Sotomayor
Appointed by Barack Obama
Senate Confirmation:
August 8, 2009– present
DOB: June 25, 1954

19. Justice Elena Kagan Appointed by Barack Obama
Senate Confirmation:
August 7, Present
DOB: April 28, 1960

20. Justice Neil M. Gorsuch Appointed by Donald Trump
Senate Confirmation: 54-45
April 7, present
DOB – Aug 29, 1967

21. Supreme Court Schedule
First two weeks of the month, they hear arguments, discuss cases, and vote. They have a two week recess where they decide what cases to hear and write opinions on other cases. They read briefs, arguments written by attorneys
Four out of nine justices must want to hear a case. It is then placed on the docket, calendar.
The case must have two adversaries, opposing sides.

22. Cases in the Supreme Court
Almost all cases reach the Supreme Court on appeal.
Writ of Certiorari: Directs a lower court to send records for review.
Lower courts sometimes ask the Supreme Court to make a ruling.

23. Decisions and Opinions
Must have a majority vote to decide. (At least 6 judges must vote).
If there is a tie, the lower court ruling is upheld.

24. Answer the following prompts in at least 2 paragraphs
1. A judge who shares a president’s views when first appointed may rule differently on cases later. Why?
2. Do you think it is a good idea that Supreme Court justices are appointed for life? Explain your answer.

25. Do you remember??? Opportunity cost State revenue Partnerships
Corporations
Monetary decisions
‘rust belt’ & ‘sun belt’
Comparative advantage
Pos. & neg. impacts on GDP
Supply & demand curves
Business cycle
Federalist Papers
Federalism
Articles of Confederation
Jean-Jacques Rousseau
John Locke
Baron de Montesquieu
17. Declaration of Independence
18. Types of government
19. “Consent of the Governed”
20. Types of democracy
21. Battle of Saratoga
22. Legislative Branch
23. Elastic Clause
24. Parts of the Constitution
25. Popular sovereignty
26. Marbury v Madison
27. McCulloch v Maryland
28. Plessy v Ferguson
29. Brown v Board of Ed
30. Dred Scott v Sanford
31. Executive Branch
32. Steps to become President

26. 1. A judge who shares a president’s views when first appointed may rule differently on cases later. Why? 1-2 paragraphs
2. Former Chief Justice Charles Evans Hughes once said, “The Constitution is what the judges say it is.” Explain the meaning of this statement.
1-2 paragraphs
3. Do you think it is a good idea that Supreme Court justices are appointed for life? Explain your answer.

27. Review District Court Mapp v Ohio Appellate court US v Nixon
Supreme Court
Korematsu v US
Precedent
Furman v Georgia
Judge
NJ v TLO
Magistrate
Brown V Board of Ed
US Attorney
Plessy v Ferguson
Circuit
Roe v Wade
Dissenting opinion
Bush v Gore
Concurring opinion
Marbury v Madison
Majority opinion
Gibbons v Ogden
Appellate jurisdiction
Gideon v Wainwright
Original jurisdiction
Miranda v Arizona
Hazelwood v Kuhlmeier