The Federal Court System
By Morgan Whithaus
The Three Levels of the Federal Court System
The Supreme Court
- The Supreme Court is established by Article III in the Constitution.
- The Supreme Court has nine justices. Each justice serves for a life term.
- The Supreme Court is responsible for interpreting the Constitution.
- Once a case reaches the Supreme Court, four of the nine Justices must vote to hear the case before the case is heard.
- After reading the briefs and hearing the oral arguments of the petitioner and the respondent, the Supreme Court Justices' ask the petitioner and respondent questions.
- The Supreme Court Justices decide their case in the Justices' Conference.
- The Supreme Court Justices write several opinions to explain the reasoning behind their votes (majority, concurring, and dissenting opinion).
Appeals Courts
- Appeals courts review decisions made in lower district courts.
- Appeals courts do not decide about guilt or innocence or which side should win a case.
- Appeals courts rule only on whether the original trial was fair and if the person's rights were protected.
- One appellate judge writes an opinion that explains the legal thinking behind the court's decision in the case.
District Courts
- Trials are held and lawsuits begin at district courts.
- For all federal cases, district courts have original jurisdiction which is the authority to hear the case for the first time.
- District courts hear both civil and criminal cases.
- District courts are the only federal courts that involve witnesses and juries.