Court Structure. “Dual” Court System Court Structure “Dual” Court System.

Court Structure

Court Structure

“Dual” Court System

Court Structure

“Dual” Court System

Court Structure

“Dual” Court System

Court Structure

Three-tiered system

Court Structure

Three-tiered system

Court Structure

Three-tiered system

Court Structure

Courts of Original Jurisdiction

Courts of Appellate Jurisdiction

Supreme Courts

Court Structure

Courts of Original Jurisdiction

Court Structure

Court Structure

Court Structure

Court Structure

Court Structure

Courts of Original Jurisdiction:• Facts• Guilt or innocence (criminal case)• For the plaintiff or defendant (civil case)

Court Structure

Courts of Appellate Jurisdiction:• fairness• law• fundamental rights

Court Structure

Court Structure

Each state has its own court system

Court Structure

98% of all cases are heard in state courts

Court Structure

Court Structure

Article III

SECTION 1

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.

Court Structure

“Constitutional” courts

Court Structure

Court Structure

Court Structure

Court Structure

Court Structure

Court Structure

Court Structure

“Constitutional” courts

Court Structure

Court Structure

Court Structure

Court Structure

Court Structure

Court Structure

Court Structure

Court Structure

2007 – SCOTUS renders 71 full

opinions

64 cases from lower federal courts7 cases from state courts

0 cases of original

jurisdiction

Court Structure

Miscellaneous Notes

I. Adversarial SystemII. Litigants

A. Prosecutor v. defendant (criminal case)B. Plaintiff v. defendant (civil case)C. Standing to sueD. Class actionE. Justiciable dispute

Court Structure

Miscellaneous Notes

III. Jurisdiction – the authority to hear a caseA. Timing

1. original2. appellate

B. SubjectC. PartiesD. ExclusiveE. Concurrent