Module 6 Lesson 1
Mastery Assignment
Federal Court System
District Courts: Federal courts were lawsuits begin and trials are held, there is at least one in every state an more in states with larger populations, 94 total. They have original jurisdiction with federal cases so they get to look at the case for the first time. Only court to use juries and witnesses.
Court of Appeals: There are twelve of these and they all deal with certain circuit in the U.S. This is the 2nd level and it's where people go if they lose their case in a district court. Court of Appeals also deals with cases from lower level courts which is called appellate jurisdiction.
A thirteenth court: Court of appeals that goes nationwide, no trials, judges learn about the case and hear testimonies from the lawyers and then they decide whether to keep the original decision, reverse the decision, or remand (send the case back to the lower court to be tried again) the case
Court of Appeals
One judge makes and opinion to explain the reason behind the court's decision and then that makes a precedent which helps the other judges make their own decisions on other cases.