The Courts

1
Chapter 13

• The Courts

2
Interpretation of Judicial language

• Stare Decisis to stand on decided cases
• Appellate Court A court reviewing a case
  originally tried in a lower court
• Litigate to bring to trial / seek relief
• Class action lawsuit seeks damages for all
  persons affected
• Judicial Review check on other branches

3
The U.S. Court System

• Dual court system
• Parties in court plaintiff vs. defendant
• 2 basic requirements before court
• 1) Jurisdiction- authority of a court to hear a
  case
• - federal question- U.S. Constitution/ federal
  law
• 2) Standing to Sue- party bringing suit must be
  wronged

4
Dual Court System

• State Courts
• Florida State Court System
• Federal Courts
• - 3 types of federal courts

5
Federal Court System

• 3-tier system
• 1) U.S. District Courts Specialized Courts
• - trial courts / general limited jurisdiction
• - at least one district court in every state
  (94 total)
• - federal judges appointed for life (850)
• - Clinton appointed 200 federal judges

6
Federal Court System (continue)

• 2) U.S. Court of Appeals
• - 13 federal appellate courts
• - hear appeals within their districts
• - panels of 3 judges review case / error
• - stepping stones for Supreme Court

7
U.S. Supreme Court

• 3) U.S. Supreme Court
• Highest Court in the land
• nine justices including chief justice
• hears appeals from federal state courts

8
Supreme Court Justices

• 1) John Paul Stevens (R-1975, Ford)
• 2) Antonin Scalia (R- 1986, Reagan)
• 3) Anthony Kennedy (R- 1988, Reagan)
• 4) David Souter (R-1990, Bush)
• 5) Clarence Thomas (R- 1991, Bush)
• 6) Ruth Bader Ginsburg (D- 1993, Clinton)
• 7) Stephen Breyer (D- 1994, Clinton)
• 8) John Roberts (R- 2005, Bush)
• 9) Samuel Alito (R- 2006, Bush)

9
US Supreme Court

• Session- Oct-June
• - usually hear 2 or more cases per day
• (M-W)
• - do not hear cases everyday

10
U.S. Supreme Court (continue)

• How does Supreme Court decide which cases to
  hear?
• Writ of Certiorari- order to send up case
• - rule of four
• 90 of cases are denied /doesn't mean agree
• Supreme Court reviews less than 1 of all cases
  decided each year

11
U.S. Supreme Court

• How the Court decide cases
• extensive research / law clerks (4)
• oral arguments questions
• Justices meet, discuss, vote
• affirm, reverse, or remand lower court decision
• Opinions are written
• - majority, concurring dissenting opinions
• - opinions published in U.S. Reports

12
Conclusion

• Judicial Review (1803)
• - Power to determine if a law or action by
  another branch of govt is constitutional
• Strict vs. Broad Construction
• Checks Balances
• - Executive Legislative checks
• Court can directly affect our lives
• - Brown vs. Board of Edu (1954)