4.

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The jurisdiction of state and federal courts.

The jurisdiction of state and federal courts.

Jurisdiction the courts authority to hear and decide cases. Types of Jurisdiction:
Original Appellate Exclusive Concurrent

Original Jurisdiction
A court of original jurisdiction is the court where a case begins! Local State Courts and Federal District Courts have original jurisdiction!

Appellate Jurisdiction
Case taken on appeal from a lower court by a higher court are cases of appellate jurisdiction! The Federal and State Courts of Appeal and the Supreme Courts all have appellate jurisdiction.

Exclusive (Federal) Jurisdiction

The Case can only be heard in Federal Courts. What types of cases have federal jurisdiction?
Cases involving the Constitution Federal laws (kidnapping, tax evasion, etc) Ambassadors and Diplomats Disputes between states Disputes between citizens of separate states Maritime law (cases on the high seas)

Concurrent Jurisdiction
A case that may be tried in either the state or federal court system. Disputes between parties of different states involving $50,000 or more are usually tried in Federal District Court!

A Citizens Dual Court System Both States and the Federal Government have courts from local or district courts to courts of appeal and finally to a Supreme court!

Federal Courts

District Courts U.S. Courts of Appeal U.S. Supreme Court

United States Court System (SAD)

U.S. Supreme Court (Justices/No Jury) Appellate Jurisdiction U.S. Court of Appeals (Judges/No Jury) Appellate Jurisdiction

S A D

U.S. District Courts (Judges and Juries) Original Jurisdiction

U.S. District Courts

Federal district courts have exclusive and original jurisdiction. Most court cases involve state law and are tried in the states. District courts are the federal courts where trials are held and lawsuits are begun. All states have at least 1. NC has 2. There are 91 in all. District courts hear both civil and criminal cases. They are the only federal courts that involve witnesses and juries.

District Courts are the only Constitutional Courts to use Juries!!

Grand Juries are used to indict defendants! Petit Juries (12 people) are used to try defendants! Most federal cases end here! 8090%

U.S. Courts of Appeals

Created in 1891 to relieve the burden on the Supreme Court 11 Circuits + 1 for the District of Columbia 179 judges + 1 member of the Supreme Court/Circuit

U.S. Courts of Appeals

3 Judge Panels pick and choose their cases Appellate Jurisdiction only with cases heard from: District court Federal regulatory agencies like: FTC

Federal Appellate and Circuit Court Districts

U.S. Supreme Court

The Highest law of the land!!!

US Supreme Court Building in Washington, D.C.

Chief Justice John Roberts

One years work on the Supreme Court!

6000 Appeals from lower courts considered 400 Cases reviewed 100 Cases accepted by the rule of 4 100 Precedent Setting Rulings

Refusal to Accept a Case!

Most cases are rejected! Most lower court rulings or appellate court rulings are allowed to stand! Rarely does a case go to the Supreme Court!

North Carolina Court System

Lower State Courts General Trial Courts Appellate Courts NC Supreme Court

North Carolina Courts

Panel of 7 elected judges Hears appeals from lower courts

NC Supreme Court

Panel of judges Hears appeals from lower courts

Appellate Courts

Judge and jury Hears criminal and civil cases Justice Courts rural and small towns Magistrate Courts larger towns, small cities Municipal Courts traffic, juvenile, misdemeanors (larger cities)

General Trial Courts

Lower Courts

Lower State Courts

The state court system handles most of the nations legal matters. State courts interpret and apply state and local laws. Justice Courts have a Justice of the Peace who is an elected person to hear and decide cases. Larger towns have magistrate courts. These courts hear minor offenses and civil cases involving less than $1,000.

General Trial Courts

General Trial Courts deal with felonies, or serious crimes, and civil cases involving a large amount of money. They can also be called District Courts, county courts, common plea courts, circuit courts, or superior courts (NC). Juries hear felony cases. A judge makes sure the trial is conducted fairly. The judge also decides the penalty if the defendant is found guilty.

State Appellate Courts

A panel of judges decide the cases. If the judge feels the defendant did not get a fair trial, they can overturn the lower courts decision.

NC Supreme Court
State Supreme Courts review the decisions of appeals courts. It also interprets the states constitution and laws (sounds like the US Supreme Court!). Except for cases involving federal law or the US Constitution, the decision of the state supreme court is final. NC has 7 elected judges (8 year terms)