Criminal Justice CafeCriminal Justice Cafe

If you were an ice cream, what If you were an ice cream, what flavor would you be and why?flavor would you be and why?

Give 2 examples in your life of Give 2 examples in your life of when you displayed the when you displayed the characteristics of the flavor characteristics of the flavor you selected.you selected.

Cup of the Day

Supreme Supreme CourtCourt

Top of the Top of the Judicial Branch Judicial Branch in the Federal in the Federal Government.Government.

Final say in all Final say in all matters dealing matters dealing with the with the United United States States ConstitutionConstitution..

The Federal System—The Supreme Court

• “The Supreme Court of the United States of America”

• Court of last resort • 9 Justices: 1 Chief, 8 Associate • Chief also serves as “chief

executive” of entire federal judiciary

Circuit Courts of Appeals• Circuit courts of appeals review a case for

errors of law, not of fact.• Normally, three judges sit as a panel to hear

cases. Jury trials are not allowed.

• Texas is in the 5th Circuit along with Louisiana and Mississippi

Federal Courts

Supreme Court

U.S. Courts of Appeals

U.S. Courts of Appeals for the Federal Circuit

U.S. Courts of Military Appeals

94 District &

Territorial Courts

U.S. Tax Court

U.S. Court of Interna-tional Trade

U.S. Court of Federal Claims

U.S. Court of Veteran Appeals

Courts of Military Review

Court of AppealsCourt of Appeals

• In most cases, parties in a federal case have a right to one appeal of the trial decision—these first appeals are heard by the Circuit Courts of Appeals.

• Appeals must usually be based on a question of law, not fact.

– Essentially, Courts of Appeals decide if the trial was properly conducted, not if the party was guilty/liable.

The United States Supreme Court

• In order for a case to be heard by the Supreme Court, at least four justices must vote to hear the case.

• RULE OF FOUR!!!

Justice Selection & TermJustice Selection & TermPresident appoints justicesPresident appoints justices

and Senate confirms appointmentand Senate confirms appointment

Life term or good behaviorLife term or good behavior

Do presidents try to “pack the court” with Do presidents try to “pack the court” with justices who share same political justices who share same political ideologies as themselves?ideologies as themselves?

John RobertsJohn Roberts Chief Justice Chief Justice Appointed by Appointed by

George W. Bush.George W. Bush. Took his seat on Took his seat on

High Court on High Court on 9/25/059/25/05..

Graduate of Harvard Graduate of Harvard and Harvard Lawand Harvard Law

Born 1/27/55Born 1/27/55 Right leaning….Right leaning….

Antonin ScaliaAntonin Scalia Associate JusticeAssociate Justice Appointed by Ronald Appointed by Ronald

Reagan.Reagan. Took his seat on the Took his seat on the

High Court on 9/26/86.High Court on 9/26/86. Graduate of Graduate of

Georgetown and Georgetown and Harvard Law.Harvard Law.

Born 3/11/36.Born 3/11/36. RIGHT leaning…. RIGHT leaning….

Anthony KennedyAnthony Kennedy Associate JusticeAssociate Justice Appointed by Ronald Appointed by Ronald

Reagan.Reagan. Took his seat on the Took his seat on the

High Court on 2/18/88.High Court on 2/18/88. Graduated from Graduated from

Stanford and Harvard Stanford and Harvard Law.Law.

Born 7/23/36.Born 7/23/36. Moderate….Moderate….

Clarence ThomasClarence Thomas Associate JusticeAssociate Justice Appointed by Appointed by

George HW Bush.George HW Bush. Took his seat on Took his seat on

the High Court on the High Court on 10/23/91.10/23/91.

Graduate of Holy Graduate of Holy Cross and Yale Cross and Yale LawLaw

Born 6/23/48.Born 6/23/48. RIGHT leaning….RIGHT leaning….

Ruth Bader GinsburgRuth Bader Ginsburg Associate JusticeAssociate Justice Appointed by Appointed by

William Clinton.William Clinton. Took her seat on Took her seat on

the High Court on the High Court on 8/10/93.8/10/93.

Graduate of Graduate of Cornell and Cornell and Columbia Law.Columbia Law.

Born 3/15/33.Born 3/15/33. LEFT leaning….LEFT leaning….

Stephen BreyerStephen Breyer Associate Justice.Associate Justice. Appointed by Appointed by

William Clinton.William Clinton. Took his seat on the Took his seat on the

High Court on 8/3/94High Court on 8/3/94 Graduate of Graduate of

Stanford and Stanford and Harvard Law.Harvard Law.

Born 8/15/38.Born 8/15/38. LEFT leaning….LEFT leaning….

Samuel AlitoSamuel Alito Associate Justice.Associate Justice. Appointed By George Appointed By George

W. Bush.W. Bush. Took his seat on the Took his seat on the

High Court on High Court on 1/31/06.1/31/06.

Graduate of Princeton Graduate of Princeton and Yale Law.and Yale Law.

Born 4/1/50.Born 4/1/50. Right leaning….Right leaning….

Sonia SotomayorSonia Sotomayor Associate Justice.Associate Justice. Appointed By Barack Appointed By Barack

Obama.Obama. Took her seat on the Took her seat on the

High Court on 8/8/09.High Court on 8/8/09. Graduate of Graduate of

Princeton and Yale Princeton and Yale Law.Law.

Born 6/25/54.Born 6/25/54. Left leaning….Left leaning….

Elena KaganElena Kagan Associate Justice.Associate Justice. Appointed by Barack Appointed by Barack

Obama.Obama. Took her seat on the Took her seat on the

High Court on 8/7/10High Court on 8/7/10 Graduate of Graduate of

Princeton, Oxford Princeton, Oxford and Harvard Law.and Harvard Law.

Born 4/28/60.Born 4/28/60. LEFT leaning….LEFT leaning….

Today’s Court……Today’s Court……