The Judicial Branch

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The Judicial Branch
The Roberts Court
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Judiciary Act 1789

• No court system under ___________
• Article _____ Created Supreme Court
• courts for dummies
• lower (inferior) federal courts were left up
  to ______________________
• ___________________ created federal district
  court system
• 1891-Congress created _________ court
• Judges are appt by ____________ approved by
  _______________
• Serve for good behavior (life)
• Try to be as independent as possible
• __________________________________
• ____________________________________

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2 Separate Court Systems

• 1. State Courts cases dealing with ________
  violations Most cases
• _________________ a law broken
• juries decide guilt/innocence
• _________ cases- one side files a
• _______-complaint made to the court asking for a
  decision
• 2. Federal Courts people accused of breaking
  ___________ law
• __________________ violations
• tax evasion, ______________ (FDIC)
• any crime ___________________
• Disputes between states, foreign govt, on high
  sea maritime laws
• Cases dealing with_____________

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Types of Jurisdiction

• Jurisdiction- authority to hear and decide a case
• ____________________ - the only court to hear a
  case
• _____________________ -More than one court can
  hear a case
• state Fed. Laws banks (FDIC)
• Crimes that cross state lines
• East Coast Sniper, Dru Sjodin
• ______________________ 1st time a case is heard
• District Supreme Court
• _______________________ -case taken to higher
  court on appeal
• _________________has exclusive, original and
  appellate Jurisdiction

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12.2 - Lower Federal Courts

• _________________only courts of
• the Federal System to have trials
• both civil and criminal cases- have
  __________________ and do about 90 of work of
  the court system
• ______________ cases/yr
• each state has at least _____ district
• some as many as 4 district
• MN is ___________________
• Const. guarantees
• trial is held ____________________
• _________________ 6th Amend.
• each district has at least _______
• decides procedures
• explain law to jury

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Other Court Officials

• Magistrate
• _________________________
• _________________________
• _________________________
• U.S. Attorney- govt lawyer
• _________________________
• ___________________________
• ___________________________
• usually many assistants, staff
• U.S. Marshal-
• _________________________
• _________________________
• _________________________

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U.S. Court of Appeals

• only cases that come on appeal from lower courts
  or
• _______________________
• Will hear cases
• _________________________
• if the law was applied incorrectly
• __________________________
• Created 1891 to ease the
• ________________________
• U.S. Courts of Appeal each hears cases that
  occur within ________________________
• We are _________ Circuit
• __________________________ is assigned to
  oversee a circuit

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12.3 - U.S. Supreme Court

• Highest Court in the land- final court
• Other branches __________________
• _______________________ -very rare
• trials involving diplomats from foreign countries
• cases where a state is involved
• __________________________
• About 7-8000 cases appealed, lt100 heard/yr.
• Only hear appeals that deal with significant
  legal or Const. questions
• Cases of great concern to the public
• Supreme Court decisions may not be appealed
• Federal courts have __________________
• Can review any federal or state law to see if it
  _________________________________________
• If doesnt agree _________________ or cancelled
• __________________ decided judicial Review
• Judicial branch must be able to decide
  constitutionality
• If conflict in laws the constitution must be
  followed
• Checks the power of the exec. leg branches

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• Supreme Court Justices
• _____________ John Roberts
• 8 ________________________
• Constitution _____________
• All have been lawyers
• Many judges, law professors
• Appointed by __________ , approved by the
  _______________
• Usually appoint ones who agree with the
  _____________________________
• They are under no obligation to vote the way the
  Pres. wants them to
• Appointed for __________________
• Chief Justice makes _____________
• Associates make _______________
• Pension highest salary after 10 yrs

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12.4 How the Supreme Court Operates

• ____________________ new term starts- lasts
• until _________________of the following year
• 90 come by way of ________________-request
• to have record sent from lower to higher court
• __________________________________________________
  ___
• lower court decision different than existing
  ruling
• ____________________________________________

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• _______________________Justices vote whether or
  not to hear a case
• need 4 of the 9 to agree
• Lawyers for each side present briefs
• Alternating 2 week periods of ______________ and
  _______________
• _______________ hear cases, deliver rulings
• __________ discuss cases and write opinions
• Lawyers present case in open court
• _______ minute time limits
• Justices _____________________________
• ______________- _________________ presides each
  states views and opinions
• Start with __________________ justice first
• Votes (_________________) few are unanimous,
  most split

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Supreme Court Decisions

• ______________________ decides
• __________________ decisions
• _____________-official decision of court
• __________________-doesnt agree with the
  majority
• written by the most senior justice doesnt agree
• ____________________-agrees with the majority but
  for different reasons
• May be many of these if different reasons
• Court decisions ___________________
• ___________- Let the decision stand
• _______________-court decisions are based on
  earlier, similar cases

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