Federal Court
Maggie Riley
Federal Court Terms
US Attorney-A lawyer who works for the president and defends cases for the federal government
Magistrate Judge- Judicial officers who assist U.S. district judges when getting cases ready for trial, the magistrate judge may decide cases when selected by both parties
Life Terms-the judges can serve for life or however long they want-only supreme justices can serve for life.
Precedent-model for other judges to follow when making a decision
Opinion-legal decision or thoughts on the case
Remand-sending a case back to a lower court
Circuit- 12 U.S. Courts cover a particular geographical area
Appellate- to review a case from a lower court
District
-no appellate jurisdiction
-94 judicial districts in 50 states
U.S. Court of Appeals
-12 region circuit courts
-no original jurisdiction only appellate
Supreme Court
-nine justices
-meets in Washington D.C.
-limited original jurisdiction over some cases
How The Federal System Works!
Each side presents their case.
Court applies law and makes a decision.
Witnesses provide evidence and juries decide the guilt or innocence.
Local, state and national level.
Rights of being accused
-Every accused person has the right to a public trial and a lawyer.
-Accused people as considered innocent unless proven guilty.
-May ask for review of their case (appeal)
3 levels-
District
Court of Appeals
Supreme
Jurisdiction
Federal court gets jurisdiction in 8 types of cases
exclusive jurisdiction- only they can listen and decide cases
concurrent jurisdiction- they may share and let others hear the case