the court system and sources of rights. structure of the court system dual court system – one for...
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The Court System and Sources of Rights
Structure of the Court System
Dual court system – one for federal cases and one for state cases
52 separate judicial systems- 50 states Federal Washington, DC
Federal vs. State Jurisdiction
How do we determine to file a case in federal or state court?If violates federal law, case tried in federal courtIf violate state law, case tried in state court
Federal vs. State Jurisdiction
If violates federal and state law, may be tried in either or both courtsHow do they decide which court to file in?Why not double jeopardy? applies only to successive prosecution
for the same offense by the same jurisdiction
What is jurisdiction?
Authority to try a caseConferred by lawDifferent courts have different jurisdicitons
The Federal Court System
The highest court in the federal system is the U.S. Supreme CourtWill spend most time in class on U.S. Supreme Court decisions6 justices are considered a quorum5 votes needed to win a case
The Federal Court System
What is the jurisdiction of the U.S. Supreme Court?
Appellate cases involving questions of federal law or the U.S. Constitution
The Federal Court System
Receive 8,000 cases a year and hear 100 How do they decide which cases to hear?
Rule of Four – four justices must agree to consider/hear a case
The Federal Court System
What happens to the other cases not selected?Per curiam decision – decision of lower court is left undisturbed
The Federal Court System
What is the territorial effect of the decisions made by the US Supreme Court?Binding on all courts in the nation
The Federal Court System
Next level is US Courts of Appeals (13 judicial circuits) 5th Circuit is Texas, Louisiana, and Mississippi
What is the jurisdiction?Primarily appellate cases from the US District Courts
The Federal Court System
What is the effect of their decisions?Binding in judicial circuit only
Problem – decision may be different among circuits Ex. roadblocks
The Federal Court System
Next level is US District Courts (94 judicial districts)General trial courtDecisions binding in district onlyTexas has 4 districts
The Federal Court System
Next level is US Magistrates CourtsLimited Jurisdiction – try minor offenses and misdemeanor cases in which one year or less of incarceration is possibleRelieve district courts of heavy caseloads
The State Court System
Varies from state to state but generally follow a similar pattern Supreme Court Intermediate Appellate Courts General Jurisdiction Trial Courts Lower Courts
The Appellate Process
Most cases enter the federal and state judicial systems at the trial level Cases can usually be appealed to the next highest level of court Determine whether errors of law
occurred during trial or sentencing
The Appellate Process
What happens if the appellate court determines that an error has occurred?
It depends on the type of error
The Appellate Process
Two types of error:Prejudicial error – would have affected the outcome of the case
Harmless error – would not have affected the outcome of the case
The Appellate Process
If harmless error, nothing happensIf prejudicial error, remanded to trial court for action consistent with opinion of the appellate court
The Appellate Process
If prejudicial error, what happens?Can retry case – Why not double jeopardy?Can dismiss case
The Appellate Process
Why is appellate process so crucial?
Provides uniform law, if not appealed then conflicting decisions
Principle of Stare Decisis (Judicial Precedent)
To abide by, or adhere to, decided casesDecisions of courts have value as precedent for future cases similarly circumstancedPrecedent can be discarded at any time by the court that decided it Why composition of Supreme court so
critical
State laws and constitutions can give defendants more protection than US Constitution but not less Trial by jury for juveniles
Incorporation Controversy
Bill of Rights originally applied to the federal governmentThrough selective incorporation (via 14th Amendment), the rights enumerated in the Bill of Rights became applicable to states Except grand jury indictment and
prohibition against excessive bails and fines