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Slide 1
THE JUDICIAL BRANCH
Slide 2
Equal Justice Under The Law All people are created equalthus,
our judicial system protects citizens under a set of laws/rules
Laws define OUR rights and freedoms
Slide 3
Why do we have laws? Imagine a society without rules Laws
promote the common good, protect you physically and personally,
protect your rights, and set limits on behavior Questions as to
where our rights end due to infringing on others Freedom to play
music v. Neighbors right to enjoy peaceful surroundings
Slide 4
Civil v. Criminal Law Disputes between people Judge and/or jury
listen to arguments of both sides (facts of the case) Settles
personal issues Defines crimes Behaviors that are illegal because
society finds it to be harmful Outlines trial/punishment Protect
society as a whole Civil LawCriminal Law QUESTION: WHAT ARE SOME
EXAMPLES OF CRIMINAL AND CIVIL LAWS/TRIALS?
Slide 5
Sources of the Law Principles of Laws are set forth in the
Constitution Four principal types of law: Statutory Common
Administrative Constitutional Constitutional Law is the supreme law
of the land
Slide 6
Statutory Law Laws passed by lawmaking bodies are known as
statutes Can be passed by Congress, state, or local govt Most
criminal laws and many civil laws fall into this category Usually
represent the majority rule, so they can change over time through
the adoption of a new law QUESTION: WHAT ARE SOME EXAMPLES OF
STATUTORY LAWS?
Slide 7
Common Law We cannot have a statute for every type of
wrongdoing in our societyjust imagine how long that list of laws
would be Thus, courts often need to make decisions based off common
sense, traditions, and past decisionsthis practice is known as
common law Precedent: Earlier Decision Often, judges will use
precedent to help them make decisions in court cases Over time, the
ruling becomes a customary law (common law) QUESTION: WHAT ARE SOME
EXAMPLES OF COMMON LAWS?
Slide 8
Administrative Law Administrative laws are created by
government agencies/commissions and not official legislatures Many
of these laws affect our daily lives, much like statutory laws,
since the agencies are overseeing some aspect of our society
QUESTION: WHAT ARE SOME EXAMPLES OF ADMINISTRATIVE LAW?
Slide 9
Constitutional Law SUPREME LAW OF THE UNITED STATES Based on
the Constitution and how the Supreme Court interprets the
Constitution Example: 6 th Amendments Right to assistance of
counsel for their defense and the SC interpretation that states
must give free legal aid to those unable to afford a lawyer (Gideon
v. Wainwright) QUESTION: WHAT ARE SOME EXAMPLES OF CONSTITUTIONAL
LAW?
Slide 10
The Role of Courts Cases can be people v. people; people v.
government; government v. government In a criminal case, it is
society v. individual Society represented by attorney for
government (often the District Attorney) In civil dispute, both
sides have options of having an attorney or representing
themselves
Slide 11
Trial Rights Criminal Case Accused have right to attorney,
right to confront accuser, and right to a jury Always presumed to
be innocentjob of accuser to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that
the person is guilty Right to appeal if convicted Appeal: process
by which the person asks a higher court to review the result of the
trial Higher court may change ruling Appeal process ensures trials
are decided fairly
Slide 12
Key Definitions Jurisdiction: Extent or scope of authority that
a court has to hear and decide a case that has properly been
brought before it Original Jurisdiction: authority to hear and
decide a case for the first time Appellate Jurisdiction: authority
to review decisions made by lower courts
Slide 13
THE FEDERAL COURT SYSTEM
Slide 14
The Federal Court System THE SUPREME COURT U.S. COURT OF
APPEALS U.S. DISTRICT COURTS 1 2 3
Slide 15
U.S. District Courts Set up by Congress Federal District Courts
Lowest level of US federal courts Trial courts for original
jurisdiction (no appeals in district courts) Only federal court in
which jury trials are held 94 Total in United States (each state
has at least 1) 3 District Courts in PA
Slide 16
District Judges Federal District Judges are appointed by the
President and get approved by Senate Can only be removed via
impeachment by Congress Trial judges that oversee civil and
criminal trials Apply the law to the facts of the case Can be with
or without juries Decides punishment in criminal cases
Slide 17
U.S. Court of Appeals Losing party in district court has right
to appeal US Court of Appeal reviews decision by lower courts
(Appellate Jurisdiction) 12 Judicial Circuits PA in judicial
circuit 3, along with New Jersey & Delaware Each court of
appeals will have anywhere from 6 to 28 judges Longest serving
member under 65 years of age is the senior judge
Slide 18
U.S. Courts of Appeals
Slide 19
Process of Court of Appeals Losing party appeals Panel of at
least 3 judges examines records of district court and hears
arguments from both sides Do not decide guilt, but rather if the
trial was fair and law was properly interpreted Majority vote for
decision May be sent back to new trial in district court or uphold
the courts decisions This may get appealed again to the Supreme
Court
Slide 20
Slide 21
Slide 22
The Supreme Court Highest court of the United States Consists
of nine justices, appointed for life Chief Justice is the principal
judge on the case Today: John Roberts Reviews cases that have been
tried in lower federal courts and in state courts most of the time
3 Exceptions for SC original jurisdiction 1. Diplomats from other
countries 2. Cases between states 3. State v. Federal Govt
cases
Slide 23
Qualifications No Special Requirements Appointed by President,
approval by Senate Removal by resignation, death, or impeachment
only Question: Do you think we should set qualifications for
Supreme Court Justices? Why or why not?
Slide 24
Judicial Review Power where the Supreme Court can decide
whether or not a law is in agreement with the Constitution How did
they get this power? John Marshall in the case of Marbury v.
Madison Marbury named justice of peace by John Adams Jefferson
tells Sec of State Madison to deny appointment Marbury claims
Judiciary Act of 1789 gives court power to order Madison to fulfill
appointment Marshall says it was not granted by
Constitutiondeclares act of Congress unconstitutional
Slide 25
Pick & Choose Your Case Over 7,000 cases are filed each
year to the SC Court takes cases that deal with important
constitutional or national questions Minimum of four justices must
vote to hear a particular case If refused, lower court decision
will remain in effect Remand: return a case to the lower court for
a new trial
Slide 26
Hearing a Case Supreme Court hears cases by oral arguments Each
side given 30 minute limit Justices will then read written
arguments and consider arguments said in court Eventually, they
will take a vote and a simple majority wins After all of this, the
Court will share the opinion Reasoning used to come to that
decision
Slide 27
Most Common Types of Opinions Courts Opinion (Majority Opinion)
Written by senior member in majority or Chief Justice (could assign
to someone else if they choose) Details reasoning for decision
Concurring Opinion Agrees with decision, but not the reasoning
behind it Dissenting Opinion Explains why the justices in the
majority opinion are wrong Has zero effect on law, but is important
if case gets review later
Slide 28
Checks and Balances Revisited Executive Branch Appoints Federal
Judges Legislative Branch Senate confirmation Rewriting of
unconstitutional laws Amend the Constitution
Slide 29
How the Court Changes Over Time Civil Rights and Segregation
Scott v. Sandford (1857) Slaves were not US citizens (they were
property), thus they cannot sue Plessy v. Ferguson (1896) Separate
but equal doctrine Brown v. Board of Education (1954) Segregated
schools were not equalreversed Plessy ruling