The Role of Federal Courts

1. The Role of Federal Courts Chapter 10 Section 1

2. Key Terms • Plaintiff • Defendant • Prosecution • Precedent • Original Jurisdiction • Appeal • Appellate Jurisdiction

3. Laws and Courts • Dispute involving law are resolved in the legal system • What they do • Was something done on purpose • What law was broken • Guilty or innocent? • How should the person be punished • If serious decided through the legal system

4. What courts do • All courts do the same thing • Apply law to actual situation • Interpret law and decide how to apply them • Criminal and Civil • If Criminal decides guilt or innocence • If Civil settles a dispute • Broken contract, divorce, violation of rights • Fedral court hears both civil and criminal

5. Parties in the conflict • Civil • Plaintiff- an individual or group who bring a complaint against another party. • Defendant- the party who answers the complaint and defends against it • D’Arcy v Upper Dublin Township • Defendant could be an individual, group, or a governmental body

6. When referencing a Civil Case the name of the Plaintiff is listed first • Name of the Defendant is last • Criminal case is brought by • Prosecution- a government body that brings a criminal charge against a defendant who is accused of breaking on of its laws • Prosecution is referred to the people

7. People of the State of Pennsylvania V D’Arcy • When referencing a criminal case the defendant’s name is last

8. Members of the Court • Judge applies the laws between parties • Determines which side is more in keeping with the law • Directs the proceedings • Must remain neutral and not take a side • Most legal cases involve a jury who decides the facts • Trial by jury is a guaranteed Constitutional right

9. Interpreting the Laws • Hearing a case • Decide what law is in question • Is the law allowed by the Constitution • Process of interpretation • Precedent- a guideline for how all similar cases should be decided in the future • Makes the meaning of the Constitution clearer

10. State Courts and Federal Courts • Decisions to establish the broadest precedents made in higher courts • Each state has different court levels • Traffic courts • Juvenile courts • Municipal courts (city level) • Most of the everyday laws are state and local

11. Jurisdiction • Original jurisdiction- the authority to hear a case first • Determines the facts of the case • Usually a trial by jury • Because the hold trials to resolve the case • Courts with original jurisdictions are called trial courts

12. If plaintiff or defendantbelieve a decisionis unjust • Appeal- to ask a higher court to review the decision and determine if justice was done • Each state has an appeals court hear lower case appeals • Appellate Jurisdiction- the authority to hear an appeal

13. Appeals court does not hold trials • Nor does it determine the facts of the case • It reviews the legal issues involved • Decides to affirm or let stand • If it thought the court was unfair may reverse a lower court decision • Can order another trial • When plaintiff is innocent the prosecution can not appeal (Constitution prohibits double jeopardy)

14. Appeal process can go beyond first appeal • Final court of appeals is the state Supreme Court • State Courts have three levels • Trial courts • Appeals court • Court of final appeals

15. Cases heard by Federal • Courts Cases involving federal law • Issues beyond state authority • Second They hear cases appealed from State Supreme Courts • Must involve federal law • Constitutional issue • Supreme Court leadership in federal system