1. Chapter 4 THE COURT SYSTEM
Lesson 4-1:
Dispute Resolution and the Courts

2. Resolving Disputes Privately
Litigate – take disputes to court
Mediator – independent third party who tries to develop a solution acceptable to both sides of the dispute
Decision does not bind the parties
Arbitrator -- third party who holds an informal hearing to determine what happened
Decision is binding, can be enforced by court order

3. Different Levels of Courts
Court – a governmental forum that administers justice under the law
Follows impartial and thorough procedures to make decisions

4. 2 Levels of Courts:
1. Trial Courts – first court to hear a dispute
original jurisdiction – authority to try the case the first time it is heard
Judge, witnesses, clerks, sheriff or marshals, bailiffs and jury members
2. Appellate Courts – reviews decisions of lower courts when a party claims an error was made in previous proceedings

5. Trial Court Participants
Witness – testify about trial
Lawyers – officers of the court
Juries – decide issues of fact
Clerk – keeps calendar, records proceedings, and computes court costs
Sheriffs (or deputies) – serve as bailiffs (in state courts) summons witnesses, keep order in court and carry out judgments.
At Federal Level – Marshalls

6. Appellate Courts Panel of 3 judges do not hear witnesses
generally do not accept new evidence
concerned with error of law rather than questions of fact
Appellate courts examine the transcript (verbatim record of what went on at a trial)
Read appellate briefs (written arguments on the issues of law)
Decide if decision of lower court will be:
1. affirmed (upheld)
2. reversed (overturned)
3. amended (changed)
4. remanded (sent back to trial for corrective action or new trial)

7. Chapter 4 THE COURT SYSTEM
LESSON 4-2:
Federal Court System

8. 3 Levels of Federal Courts
Federal District Courts
2. Federal Courts of Appeals
3. U.S. Supreme Court

9. 3 Levels of Federal Courts
(Cases involving Federal Law)
*Specialized Federal Courts – Tax Court, Court of International Trade, Claims Court

10. Power of a court to decide a case
Jurisdiction
Power of a court to decide a case
Original jurisdiction – authority to try the case the first time it is heard
General jurisdiction – authority to hear almost any kind of case
Special jurisdiction -- authority to hear only one specific type of case
Small Claims – Bankruptcy Court
Appellate jurisdiction – authority to decide an appeal

11. Jurisdiction of the Federal District Courts
Hear cases involving: page 55
Federal questions or cases that arise under the Constitution, U.S. Law, and U.S. treaties
Lawsuits between citizens of different states
Lawsuits between U.S. citizen and a foreign nation
Lawsuits between U.S. citizen and a foreign citizens
These parties have diversity of citizenship
Must be more than $75,000 to be heard in federal courts
Less than $75,000 – case should be heard in state court

12. 1. Federal District Courts
-- Lowest level of court with general jurisdiction
Trial court of the federal system – first court to hear case
2. Federal Courts of Appeals
13 Federal Courts of Appeals
Appellate jurisdiction over the district court – can hear appeals from this court
3. United States Supreme Court
-- Highest court in the land
Both original and appellate jurisdiction
Original jurisdiction – cases affecting ambassadors, public ministers and consuls
Appellate jurisdiction -- hears appeals from U.S. Court of Appeals and other high courts of various states
Writ of certiorari – an order that compels the state court to turn over the record of the case

13. Chapter 4 THE COURT SYSTEM
LESSON 4-3:
State Court System

14. Structure of State Court Systems
State Trial Courts – Original and general jurisdiction
Court of Record – keeps an exact account of what goes on at trial.
State Court of Appeals – panel of 3 judges review case
State Supreme Courts – Appellate and original jurisdiction
Issue final decision unless federal issues or U.S. constitutional issues
Justice – the judge who sits on state supreme courts

15. State Court System
SUPREME
COURT
INTERMEDIATE
APPEALS
COURT

16. State Courts with Specialized Jurisdiction
1. Associate Circuit Courts or County Courts – hear minor criminal cases, state traffic offense and lawsuits with small amounts involved.
2. City or Municipal Courts – divided into traffic and criminal divisions; hear violations that occur within city limits
3. Small Claims Court – handles disputes in which small amounts, general $2,500 or less, are involved.
4. Juvenile Courts – hear disputes involving juveniles
emphasis on rehabilitation not punishment
5. Probate Courts – administers wills and estates