Lower Federal Courts

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Lower Federal Courts
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Federal District Courts

• U.S. divided into 94 districts
• Each state has at least one district.
• Large states like Texas, California and N.Y. have
  4 districts.
• Wash. D.C. and Puerto Rico have one district each.

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Federal District Courts

• These courts hear both criminal and civil cases.
• Criminal case crime
• Civil case law suit between two or more parties

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Criminal CasesTwo Types of Juries

• Grand Jury
• 16-23 people
• Hears charges against a suspect
• If they think a crime was committed, they issue
  an indictment.

• Petit Jury
• 6 or 12 people
• Hear and weigh evidence in a trial.
• Determines guilt or innocence of the defendant.

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Civil Cases

• Petit Jury
• 6 or 12 people
• Hear and weigh evidence in a trial.
• Finds for either plaintiff or defendant
• OR
• One judge hears and decides
• OR
• Panel of 3 judges hear and decide

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Federal Courts of Appeals

• 12 districts for Courts of Appeals
• 13 courts throughout U.S.
• 3 judges for each court
• Only deal with appeals

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Federal Courts of Appeals

• This court can
• Uphold the original decision
• Reverse the original decision
• Send the case back to the lower court to be tried
  again

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Other Federal Courts

• Court of International Trade
• U.S. Claims Court
• U.S. Tax Court
• Court of Military Appeals
• Territorial Courts
• Courts of the District of Columbia
• Court of Veterans Appeals

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Selection of Federal Judges

• All Federal judges are
• Nominated by the President
• Confirmed by the Senate
• They serve during good behavior
• (for life unless impeached)
• This protects the judges when they have to make
  unpopular decisions.
• Judges are free from public or political
  pressure.

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Qualifications of Federal Judges

• Highly respected lawyers
• Law professors
• Members of Congress
• Judges on lower courts state courts
• Party affiliation
• Judicial philosophy
• Senatorial Courtesy