C R E AT E D BY: E M I LY W I L L I A M S

I N S T RU C T O R :JA C K I E S E X S O N

PA 1 0 1 - 0 5

1 1 . 5 . 2 0 1 0

THE UNITED STATES COURT SYSTEM

AN OVERVIEW OF FEDERAL AND STATE COURT ORGANIZATION

THE GOVERNMENT AND THE PEOPLE

FEDERAL & STATE COURT

The Federal and State Court systems were established by the United States Constitution to be both independent

and complimentary of one other; each system possessing it’s own laws and

statutes designed to meet the demands of their individual Jurisdictions. The

Federal Court Jurisdiction is limited to matters effecting the nation as a whole

which cannot or ought not be addressed by a single state. State

Jurisdiction is far reaching, encompassing every other legal matter

in relation to the people.

THE FEDERAL COURTSFederal Jurisdiction

THE STATE COURTSState Jurisdiction

IDAHO STATE COURTSIdaho Jurisdiction

Designed To Work Together

S U B J E C T M AT T E R

J U R I S D I C T I O N :

C A S E S R E G A R D I N G

T H E U . S . C O N S T I T U T I O N ,

F E D E R A L S TAT U T E S

A N D R E G U L AT I O N S ,

A D M I R A LT Y, M A R I T I M E ,

F O R E I G N M AT T E R S ,

A N D D I V E R S I T Y

O F C I T I Z E N S H I P.

( “ C o n s t i t u t i o n , ” n . d . )

THE FEDERAL COURTS

(“U.S. Court Systems,” n.d.)

FEDERAL JURISDICTION

U.S. SUPREME COURT (Washington, DC) 9 Justices (Presidential life appointment) (“How the

Federal,” n.d.). Reviews lower court rulings. Hears Appeals from Administrative Agencies. Hears no evidence or testimony Allows brief oral hearings. Supreme court decisions are final. (Goldman & Cheeseman,

2010, p. 211).

U.S. COURT OF APPEALS (13) (“Federal,” n.d.) 12 Regional Circuit Court of Appeals . 1 U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. Reviews lower court rulings . Hears no evidence or testimony. Allows brief oral hearings.

US DISTRICT COURTS (94) (“Federal,” n.d. One District Court for each state (more based on

geographical area). Jury trials. Evidence and testimony are heard.

SPECIAL FEDERAL COURTS (Goldman & Cheeseman, 2010, p. 210) Jury trials. Limited jurisdiction, I.e. Administrative Agencies .

Supreme Court of the Land

Intermediate Appellate Court

Trial Courts

S U B J E C T M AT T E R J U R I S D I C T I O N :

“ S TAT E C O U RT S H AV E

J U R I S D I C T I O N T O H E A R

C A S E S I N VO LV I N G

S U B J E C T M AT T E R S

T H AT F E R E DA L C O U RT S

D O N O T H AV E J U R I S D I C T I O N

T O H E A R . T H E S E

U S UA L LY I N VO LV E

S TAT E L AW S .”

( G o l d m a n & C h e e s e m a n , 2 0 1 0 , p , 2 1 9 )

THE STATE COURT

(“U.S. Court Systems,” n.d.)

STATE SUPREME COURT (Goldman & Cheeseman, 2010, p.208-210) Hears appeals from Intermediate Courts and certain

Trial Courts. Hears Appeals from Administrative Agencies. Hears no new evidence or testimony. Allows brief oral hearings . Rulings are final unless U.S. Supreme Court appeal is

available.

COURT OF APPEALS (Goldman & Cheeseman, 2010, p.208-210) Hears appeals from Trial Courts. May review all or part of the Trial Court record (book). Allows brief oral hearings.

STATE TRIAL COURTS (Goldman & Cheeseman, 2010, p.208-210) Hears cases that limited-jurisdiction courts do not have

jurisdiction over. Jury trial available. Testimony and evidence are recorded and stored (book).

INFERIOR TRIAL COURT S(Goldman & Cheeseman, 2010, p.208-210) Hears matters of specialized or limited nature (book).

STATE JURISDICTION

Highest State Court

Intermediate Appellate Court

Trial CourtGeneral-Jurisdiction

Trial CourtLimited-Jurisdiction

IDAHO STATE COURTS

IdahoSupreme

Court

Court ofAppeals

CivilDivision

DistrictCourt

CriminalDivision

CriminalCourt Traffic Court Probate

CourtDUI Court MagistratesDivisionDrug Court Small Claims

Court

“ T H E I D A H O S TAT E C O U R T

I S M A D E U P O F T H R E E L E V E L S :

T H E T R I A L C O U R T, C A L L E D T H E

“ D I S T R I C C O U R T S ,” ( W H I C H I N C L U D E

T H E M A G I S T R AT E

D I V I S I O N ) ; T H E C O U R T

O F A P P E A L S , A N D T H E

H I G H E S T C O U R T I N T H E S TAT E -T H E S U P R E M E

C O U R T . ”

( I S B , n . d . )

My home state of Idaho mirrors the federal court system, with three basic levels. The Trial courts, the intermediate court of appeals and the High Courts (“Idaho’s Judicial Structure,” 2008).

IDAHO JURISDICTION

SUPREME COURT (5 JUSTICES) Assigns cases to the Court of Appeals Mandatory Jurisdiction in civil, capital criminal, Administrative Agency,

juvenile, disciplinary, and original proceeding cases. Discretionary jurisdiction in civil, noncapital criminal, Administrative

Agency, juvenile, certified questions from Federal Courts, original proceeding, and interlocutory decision cases.

COURT OF APPEALS (3 JUDGES) Mandatory jurisdiction in civil, noncapital criminal, juvenile, original

proceeding cases assigned by the Supreme Court. No discretionary Jurisdiction.

DISTRICT COURT (40 JUDGES) 7 Districts, jury trials. Exclusive felony and criminal appeals. Misdemeanors. Tort, contract, real property rights, probate/estate, mental health, misc.

civil. Domestic relations, and juveniles. MAGISTRATE DIVISION (85 FULL-TIME JUDGES) Tort, contract, real property rights ($0-$10,000), small Claims (up to

$5,000), probate/estate, mental health, misc. civil. Domestic relations, and Juveniles. Preliminary hearings, misdemeanors. Exclusive traffic/other violations.

Highest State Court

Intermediate

Appellate Court

Trial CourtGeneral-

Jurisdiction

Trial CourtLimited-

Jurisdiction

(“Guide,” 2010)

(“Idaho,” 2007)

(“Idaho,” 2007)

(“Idaho,” 2007)

(“Idaho,” 2007)

THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM

IS , “ASSIGNED

THE TASK

OF ACTING

AS GUARDIAN

OF THE CONSTITUTION

AND THE INTERPRETATIO

N OF IT ’S

PRINCIPLES…”

(Skousen, 2006, P. 25)

DESIGNED TO WORK TOGETHER

“The powers delegated … to the federal government are few and defined. Those which are to remain in the State governments are numerous and indefinite…” (Hamilton, Madison, & Jay, 2006, p. 292-293)

“The judicial Power of the United States, shall be vested in one supreme court, and in such inferior courts as the congress may from time to time ordain and establish.” (“Constitution,” n.d.)

“The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people..” (“Constitution,” n.d.)

Two court systems; each with it’s own Jurisdiction, SUCESSFULLY coexisting.

WORKS CITED 

Constitution of the United States (n.d.). Retrieved from The Charters of Freedom “A New World is at Hand” website: http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/constitution.html

Federal Courts Structure (n. d.). Retrieved from Unites States Courts website: http://www.uscourts.gov/FederalCourts/UnderstandingtheFederalCourts/FederalCourtsStru...

Goldman T. & Cheeseman H. (2010). The Paralegal Professional 2010. Retrieved from Kaplan University website: http://kucourses.com/ec/crs/default.learn?CourseID=4564823&Survey=1&47=7518711&ClientNodeID=404344&coursenav=2&bhcp=1

Guide to Idaho Courts, The (2010).  Retrieved from  Online Searches, LLC website: http://www.courtreference.com/Idaho-COurts.htm

Hamilton, A., Madison, J., & Jay, J. (2006).The Federalist. New York, NY: Barnes & Noble Books. 

How the Federal Courts are Organized (n.d.). Retrieved from Federal Judicial Center website: http://www.fjc.gov/federal/courts.nsf/page/181?opendocument 

Idaho (2007). Retrieved from National Center for State Courts website: http://www.ncsconline.org/D_Research/Ct_Struct/state_inc.asp?STATE=ID

Idaho’s Judicial Structure (2008). Retrieved from Idaho State Judiciary website: http://www.isc.idaho.gov/mguide/judicial_structure.html

Idaho State Bar: Idaho Court System, (n.d.). Retrieved from Idaho State Bar website: http://isb.idaho.gov/general/court_system.html

 Skousen, W. C. (2006). The 5, 000 Year Leap: A Miracle That Changed the World. National Center for Constitutional Studies.

U.S. Court Systems (n.d.) {computer graphics}. Retrieved from Kaplan University website: http://kucourses.com/ec/crs/default.learn?CourseID=4564823&Survey=1&47=7518711&ClientNodeID=404344&coursenav=2&bhcp=1