1. 7-1: The Federal Court System

2. Structure of the Federal Courts
District Courts
80% of federal caseload
Original jurisdiction in civil and criminal cases
98% of cases end in plea bargains

3. Structure of the Federal Courts
Court of Appeals (Circuit Court)
Authorized to review all district court rulings
Original jurisdiction on decisions of regulatory agencies
No trials or testimony—focus on issues of law, not fact

4. Structure of the Federal Courts
Supreme Court
Court of last resort—reviews cases from circuit court and state supreme courts
Decisions establish binding precedents for the whole nation
Judicial review—ability to rule legislation invalid
State Courts

5. Selecting Cases Overview Original Jurisdiction of Supreme Court
Court of last resort (appeals process)
Supreme Court generally does not grant appeals
Usually agrees with lower court decision
Original Jurisdiction of Supreme Court
Cases involving multiple states
Cases involving a state and the U.S. government
Cases involving foreign diplomats