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“Equal Justice Under Law”. Jurisdictions of the Federal Courts. The Judicial Branch. Definition The territory over which authority is exercised Example sentence: He has jurisdiction over all American soldiers in the area. Jurisdiction.
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“Equal Justice Under Law” Jurisdictions of the Federal Courts The Judicial Branch
Definition • The territory over which authority is exercised • Example sentence: He has jurisdiction over all American soldiers in the area Jurisdiction
1. The main purpose of the judicial branch is to interpret the Constitution 2. The courts that make up the judicial branch try to ensure that our nation’s laws are justly enforced Main Goals of Judicial branch
Courts use law to settle civil disputes and to decide the guilt or innocence of people accused of a crime The court looks at information from both sides in a case then applies the law and makes a decision in favor of one or the other. Each person is innocent until proven guilty Role of the courts
Exclusive jurisdiction: means that only federal courts may hear and decide cases Concurrent jurisdiction: means that either state or federal courts can hear cases Types of Jurisdiction
Federal courts only hear cases that deal with the following: • The Constitution • Federal Laws • Disputes between states • Citizens from Different States • The Federal Government • Foreign Governments and Treaties • Admiralty and Maritime Laws • U.S. Diplomats Federal Court Jurisdiction
If a person believes that their Constitutional rights have been violated Example: If a business discriminated against you because of your religion The Constitution
If a person breaks a federal law, their case is heard in federal court Example: Kidnapping, tax evasion, and counterfeiting Federal courts also hear civil cases that involve federal law Federal Laws
Disagreements between state governments are resolved in federal courts Example: If Wisconsin and Illinois had a dispute over water in Lake Michigan, it is a federal case Disputes Between States
Lawsuits between citizens of different states also come under federal courts Example: Ms. Jones of Maine may bring a suit in a federal court against Mr. Smith of Iowa for not fulfilling part of a business agreement Citizens from Different States
The US government could take a company to court for failing to live up to a contract to deliver supplies to a government department Individuals can also take the government to court Example: If a United States Army van struck your car or the Department of Interior failed to pay your company for equipment, you could sue the government in federal court The Federal Government
In any dispute between a foreign government and the United States government, an American company, or an American citizen, the case will be heard in a federal court Example: If Mexico wanted to sue a rancher in Texas, the case would go to federal court Foreign Governments and Treaties
These laws deal with crimes and incidents outside US territorial waters Example: If there was a disagreement over the rights of property recovered from a shipwreck, it would go to federal court Example: If a Somali pirate was captured in international waters, it goes to federal court Admiralty and Maritime Laws
If a crime is committed or a law broken on American soil in another country, the case goes to federal court Example: If an American diplomat working in the US embassy in France is accused of breaking an American law, it would go to a federal court US. Diplomats
