American Government - The Judiciary | Education

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Study GuideAmerican Government–The Judiciary1.The State Court System1.1Two Court Systems in the United StatesThe United States hastwo main court systems:1.The federal court system, which includes the Supreme Court and lower federal courtscreated by Article III of the Constitution.2.The state court system, which handles most legal cases in everyday life.These two systems runside by sideand are mostly separate. However, federal courts can reviewdecisions from state courts in some situations. TheU.S. Supreme Court has the final say onconstitutional questions, even when a case begins in a state court.1.2Organization of State CourtsState courts are organized in ahierarchy, or levels. Most states include:•Superior courts (trial courts)•State appellate courts•State supreme courtsIn most states,judges are electedrather than appointed.1.3Superior Courts (Trial Courts)Superior courts usually operate at thecounty leveland are the place where most cases begin.Who Decides the Case?•Ajudgehandles questions of law, such as whether evidence can be used.•Ajurydecides the facts of the case if the defendant asks for a jury trial.Both the judge and jury base their decisions on theevidence presented in court.

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Study Guide1.4Criminal CasesSuperior courts hearcriminal cases, which involve violations of the law. These include:•Nonviolent crimes, such as fraud•Violent crimes, such as murder, armed robbery, and rapeMany criminal cases never go to trial. Instead, the defendant may agree to aplea bargain.•Aplea bargainis an agreement where the defendant pleads guilty to a lesser charge inexchange for a reduced sentence.•Prosecutors often agree to plea bargains because theysave time and moneyand becauseserious charges can sometimes be hard to prove in court.1.5Civil CasesSuperior courts also hearcivil cases, which involve disputes between individuals or groups. Thesecases may involve:•Property•Money•Contracts•Personal well-being, such as malpractice, libel, or personal injuryThe person bringing the case is called theplaintiff.Types of DamagesPlaintiffs may ask for:•Compensatory damages–money to cover actual losses or harm•Punitive damages–money meant to punish the defendant and discourage similar behaviorin the futurePunitive damages can bemuch larger than the actual harm, especially when juries sympathizemore with individuals than with corporations.

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Study Guide1.6Class-Action LawsuitsSome civil cases areclass-action suits. These occur when many people are harmed in similar ways.Any compensation awarded isshared among all victims.Common examples involve:•Product liability•Health-related issuesHigh-profile class-action cases have targeted:•Asbestos manufacturers•Tobacco companies•Automobile manufacturers•Insurance companiesCritics argue that some activists use class-action lawsuits toachieve policy goals—such as limitingcigarettes or handguns—without gaining support through elections or legislation.1.7State Appellate CourtsIf a defendant loses a trial and believes there was alegal error, the case may be appealed.How Appeals Work•Appeals focus onlegal procedures, not on reexamining evidence or witnesses.•Cases are heard by apanel of judges, not a jury.•Decisions are made by amajority vote.The appellate court may:•Uphold the original decision•Reverse the verdict•Order a new trialOnly avery small numberof trial cases ever reach appellate courts.

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Study Guide1.8State Supreme CourtsThestate supreme courtis thehighest court in a stateand the final level of appeal.•Most cases come from defendants who lost at lower levels.•Justices decide casesas a group, and their rulings become thehighest law in the state.1.9Election of State JudgesMost state judges areelected, including:•Trial court judges•Appellate court judges•State supreme court justicesTerm Lengths•Trial court judgesusually servefour-year terms.•Many run unopposed, and voters may simply vote “yes” or “no” on the ballot.•Higher court judgesserve longer terms—usually8 or 12 years—to reduce political pressureand allow them to make independent decisions.2.The Federal Court System2.1How the Federal Courts Were CreatedWith the exception of theSupreme Court, the Constitution did not clearly spell out how the federalcourt system should be organized. Instead, it gaveCongressthe power to create lower federalcourts.Congress used this power in theJudiciary Act of 1789, which establishedthree levels of federalcourts:1.District courts2.Courts of appeal3.The Supreme Court

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Study GuideIn addition, Congress has createdlegislative and special courtsto handle very specific types oflegal cases.District CourtsThedistrict courtsare the maintrial courtsin the federal system. There are94 federal districtcourts, each serving a specific geographic area of the country.What Do District Courts Do?District courts handle bothcriminal and civil casesinvolving federal law.Federal Criminal CasesThese include crimes such as:•Mail fraud•Counterfeiting•Smuggling•Bank robberyFederal Civil CasesCivil cases may involve:•Water rights•Interstate commerce•Environmental disputesAbouthalf of all district court cases are decided by juries.2.2District Courts and Constitutional QuestionsDistrict courts are also thefirst federal courtsto hear state cases that raiseconstitutional issues.A famous example isGideon v. Wainwright (1963).•Clarence Gideon appealed his conviction from a state superior court.•The Supreme Court later ruled thateven poor defendants have the right to an attorney.This important case began at the district court level.

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