JUDICIAL BRANCHJUDICIAL BRANCHOUR COURT SYSTEM

FEDERAL COURTSARIZONA COURTS

U.S. District Courts U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals

U.S. Supreme Court

Types of Cases Heard

Justice of The Peace and City CourtsAZ Superior CourtAZ Court of AppealsAZ Supreme CourtTypes of Cases Heard

U.S. DISTRICT COURTSU.S. DISTRICT COURTS How many courts?How many courts?

Each State has at least 1 Dist. Ct. (94 Each State has at least 1 Dist. Ct. (94 Total in Country)Total in Country) All Federal cases must start here => All Federal cases must start here =>

determine factsdetermine facts AZ has 2 => 1 in Tucson, 1 in PhoenixAZ has 2 => 1 in Tucson, 1 in Phoenix

How many Judges per court?How many Judges per court? 1 judge => Trial by Jury1 judge => Trial by Jury

Qualifications? => NoneQualifications? => None Term? => LifeTerm? => Life How To Become? => Presidential How To Become? => Presidential

Appt.; Senate ApprovesAppt.; Senate ApprovesHOME

U.S. CIRCUIT COURT OF APPEALSU.S. CIRCUIT COURT OF APPEALS AKA Appellate Court, Federal Appeals Ct. AKA Appellate Court, Federal Appeals Ct. How many courts? => 12 DivisionsHow many courts? => 12 Divisions

Court of Appeals MapCourt of Appeals Map AZ is in 9AZ is in 9thth Circuit Circuit Review decisions made in lower courts (appellate Review decisions made in lower courts (appellate

jurisdiction)jurisdiction) Appeal when law used incorrectly, wrong Appeal when law used incorrectly, wrong

procedures used, new evidence turns upprocedures used, new evidence turns up How many Judges per court?How many Judges per court?

3 judges work together => No Jury3 judges work together => No Jury Qualifications? => NoneQualifications? => None Term? => LifeTerm? => Life How To Become? => Presidential How To Become? => Presidential HOME

Appointment.; Senate ApprovesAppointment.; Senate Approves

U.S. COURT OF APPEALS, CNTD.U.S. COURT OF APPEALS, CNTD.

How they make decisions?How they make decisions? Decision is not based on guilt but on Decision is not based on guilt but on

whether fair trial was receivedwhether fair trial was received One Judge writes opinion explaining One Judge writes opinion explaining

decisiondecision Decision can uphold decision, reverse Decision can uphold decision, reverse

decision, or send case back (remand)decision, or send case back (remand)

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U.S. SUPREME COURTU.S. SUPREME COURT How many courts? => How many courts? => How many Judges per court?How many Judges per court?

Qualifications? => Qualifications? => Term? => Term? => How To Become? =>How To Become? =>

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U.S. SUPREME COURTU.S. SUPREME COURT Steps to making a decision – Every Steps to making a decision – Every

case that is heard in the Court goes case that is heard in the Court goes through this processthrough this process Step 1 – Step 1 –

Step 2 – Step 2 –

Step 3 – Step 3 –

U.S. Supreme CourtU.S. Supreme Court Step 4 – Step 4 –

Step 5 – Step 5 –

AZ JUSTICE OF THE PEACE AND AZ JUSTICE OF THE PEACE AND CITY COURTSCITY COURTS

How are they chosen?How are they chosen? Direct ElectionDirect Election

Qualifications? => Registered Qualifications? => Registered VoterVoter

Term? => 4 yearsTerm? => 4 years

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AZ SUPERIOR COURTAZ SUPERIOR COURT How many courts? => 9How many courts? => 9 How many judges?How many judges?

1 judge => Trial by jury1 judge => Trial by jury Qualifications? Qualifications?

5 yrs a lawyer5 yrs a lawyer 30 yrs. old30 yrs. old AZ Resident for 5 yrsAZ Resident for 5 yrs

Term? => 4 yrs.Term? => 4 yrs. Selection => Gov. appts & merrit Selection => Gov. appts & merrit

approval after 4 yrs. in Maricopa and approval after 4 yrs. in Maricopa and Pima CountiesPima Counties Direct Election in all other CountiesDirect Election in all other Counties

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AZ COURT OF APPEALSAZ COURT OF APPEALS How many Courts? => 2 divisionsHow many Courts? => 2 divisions How many judges? => 3 per division, How many judges? => 3 per division,

work together to make decisions; No jurywork together to make decisions; No jury QualificationsQualifications

5 yrs. a lawyer5 yrs. a lawyer 30 yrs. old30 yrs. old AZ resident for 5 yrs.AZ resident for 5 yrs.

Term? => 4 yrs.Term? => 4 yrs. Selection? => Gov. appts. w/merit Selection? => Gov. appts. w/merit

approval after 4 yrs.approval after 4 yrs.HOME

AZ SUPREME COURTAZ SUPREME COURT How many courts? => 1How many courts? => 1 How many judges? => 5; no juryHow many judges? => 5; no jury Qualifications?Qualifications?

10 yrs. Lawyer10 yrs. Lawyer AZ resident for 10 yrs.AZ resident for 10 yrs.

Term? => 6 yrs.Term? => 6 yrs. Selection? => Gov. Appts. w/ merit Selection? => Gov. Appts. w/ merit

election after 4 yrs.election after 4 yrs.

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FEDERAL CASESFEDERAL CASES Jurisdiction – a court’s authority to hear Jurisdiction – a court’s authority to hear

and decide casesand decide cases Article III of Const. gives power over 8 Article III of Const. gives power over 8

kinds of cases to federal courtskinds of cases to federal courts1.1. Cases involving Const. – Const. Right Cases involving Const. – Const. Right

has been violatedhas been violated2.2. Violation of Federal Laws – Violation of Federal Laws –

Kidnapping, tax evasion, Kidnapping, tax evasion, counterfeitingcounterfeiting

3.3. Controversies Between States – water Controversies Between States – water rights between statesrights between states

4.4. Disputes between parties from Disputes between parties from different statesdifferent states

FEDERAL CASES, CNTD.FEDERAL CASES, CNTD.5.5. Suits involving the Federal Suits involving the Federal

GovernmentGovernment

6.6. Cases involving Foreign Gov. and Cases involving Foreign Gov. and Treaties Treaties

7.7. Cases based on Admiralty and Cases based on Admiralty and Maritime Laws – accidents or Maritime Laws – accidents or crimes on the high seascrimes on the high seas

8.8. Cases involving U.S. Diplomats – Cases involving U.S. Diplomats – Diplomat breaks a U.S. law while Diplomat breaks a U.S. law while working in Franceworking in France HOME

STATE CASESSTATE CASES Justice of the Peace – less serious crimes Justice of the Peace – less serious crimes

=>misdemeanors=>misdemeanors Superior Courts – General Trial Court => Superior Courts – General Trial Court =>

felonies, robbery, drug trafficking, etc.felonies, robbery, drug trafficking, etc. Court of Appeals => Review decisions of Court of Appeals => Review decisions of

trial courtstrial courts

FEDERAL RELATIONSHIP FEDERAL RELATIONSHIP WITH STATESWITH STATES

Federal Courts have exclusive Federal Courts have exclusive jurisdiction over the 8 casesjurisdiction over the 8 cases

Most court cases involve state Most court cases involve state lawlaw

Either court can try crimes that Either court can try crimes that break both fed and state lawbreak both fed and state law

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