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The Federal Court System: Promoting Equal Justice for All

Explore the key role of the Federal Court System in upholding justice, with a focus on landmark decisions, jurisdiction, and case types handled. Learn about the structure, functions, and significance of the three-tiered system, from District Courts to the Supreme Court.

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The Federal Court System: Promoting Equal Justice for All

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  1. The Federal Court System

  2. Equal Justice for All • In 1940 The Supreme Court upheld an act which put thousands of Japanese Americans in interment camps.

  3. Equal Justice for All • Later the U.S. would acknowledge the injustice of the camps. • In the Ex parte Endo decision the Supreme Court ruled that, regardless of whether the United States Government had a right to exclude people of Japanese ancestry from the West Coast during World War II, they could not continue to detain a citizen that the government itself conceded was loyal to the United States.

  4. Equal Justice for All • Federal Courts like the Supreme Court make up the third branch of government under Article III of the Constitution. • Courts use the law to settle disputes and determine guilt or innocence of a person charged with a crime.

  5. Equal Justice for All • The Supreme Court is at the top of the Federal system. • The goal of the legal system is to make sure every person is treated in the same way.

  6. Equal Justice for All • Those accused of a Crime: • Right to a public trial • Right to a lawyer • Presumed innocent until proven guilty • Right to have case reviewed for mistakes on appeal.

  7. Equal Justice for All • Ideally equal justice is hard to achieve. • Judges have their prejudices. • Communities are not without prejudices. • Poor do not have the money to spend for the best legal help.

  8. The Federal Court System • Under Article III Congress was given the power create lower federal courts. • 1789 the Judiciary Act established federal district cts. Circuit cts of appeal. • In 1891 Congress created federal Cts. Of Appeals.

  9. The Federal Court System • The Federal Courts are a 3 tiered system • Supreme Court • Courts of Appeals • District Courts

  10. Cases Heard in the Federal Courts • Courts must have jurisdiction to hear and decide cases. • Jurisdiction- Courts authority to decide and hear cases

  11. Cases Heard in the Federal CourtsCases involving the Constitution • If the law in question involves an issue that is applicable to the constitution it must be heard by the federal courts. • Examples: • Right to bear arms • Freedom of speech • Freedom of religion

  12. Cases Heard in the Federal CourtsViolations of Federal Law • A person accused of a federal crimes will be charged and tried in federal court. • Examples: • Kidnapping • Counterfeiting • Tax evasion • Others such as bankruptcy

  13. Cases Heard in the Federal CourtsDisputes between States • Disagreements among or between state governments are heard • Example: • A Colorado River water dispute between California and Arizona. • Storing nuclear waste from Washington in Yucca Mountain in Nevada.

  14. Cases Heard in the Federal CourtsDisputes between Parties from Different States • Law suits among citizens from different states are settled in Federal Courts. • Examples: 1. An insurance claim from someone in Arizona is not settled with some one in Missouri. p1

  15. Cases Heard in the Federal CourtsSuits involving the federal Government • The U.S. government may sue someone. • Example: • Defense contractor does not finish making missile parts on time. • A mail truck hits a private citizen, who in turn can sue the Federal Government.

  16. Cases Heard in the Federal CourtsSuits involving Other Countries and treaties • Any dispute between any foreign government and the U.S. is heard in federal Court. • Example: 1. Canada interprets the NAFTA agreement in a different way than the U.S.

  17. Cases Heard in the Federal CourtsCases based on Maritime Law • These laws concern acts and crimes in the high seas. • This could concern mutiny on a ship. • It recently concerned a dispute of found treasure off the coast of South Carolina.

  18. Cases Heard in the Federal CourtsCases involving U.S. diplomats • Should a U.S. diplomat break U.S. law in a U.S. embassy in a foreign country, the federal courts would handle the case.

  19. Relation to State courts • For most of the cases described the federal courts have exclusive jurisdiction over state courts. • In some cases the state and federal courts have concurrent jurisdiction meaning the state and federal courts share jurisdiction.

  20. Relation to State courts • concurrent jurisdiction • Cases that violate both state and federal law may be tried in either court. • In issues involving disputes of value more than $50,000, it must be tried in Federal Court.

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