How cases reach the Supreme Court.The Supreme Court decides about 150 cases a year. The chart below shows the basic structure of the U.S. court system, and the ways in which cases reach the Supreme Court. It also explains the Court's jurisdiction (area over which an individual or group has legal authority), and the roles of lower federal and state courts. Study the chart, then answer the questions below. U.S. SUPREME COURT Original jurisdiction: The Court must hear eases that may set a precedent (ruling that can later be used to justify a similar case), and other legal disputes that involve a state or the federal government. Appellate jurisdiction APPELLATE JURISDICTION. The jurisdiction which a superior court has to bear appeals of causes which have been tried in inferior courts. It differs from original jurisdiction, which is the power to entertain suits instituted in the first in stance. Vide Jurisdiction; Original jurisdiction. : The Court must hear appeals that seek to declare a federal or state law unconstitutional unconstitutional adj. referring to a statute, governmental conduct, court decision or private contract (such as a covenant which purports to limit transfer of real property only to Caucasians) which violate one or more provisions of the U. S. Constitution. . The Supreme Court can accept or reject other cases from lower federal or state courts. The Supreme Court accepts cases only if four or more Justices agree to grant a writ of certiorari Noun 1. writ of certiorari - a common law writ issued by a superior court to one of inferior jurisdiction demanding the record of a particular case certiorari judicial writ, writ - (law) a legal document issued by a court or judicial officer . State Supreme Court The highest court in most states; reviews state appellate court A court having jurisdiction to review decisions of a trial-level or other lower court. An unsuccessful party in a lawsuit must file an appeal with an appellate court in order to have the decision reviewed. rulings. State Appellate Courts Review cases (and appeals) from state trial courts. State Trial Courts Try the state's civil and criminal cases; cases may also begin in county or city courts. U.S. Courts of Appeals The U.S. Courts of Appeals are intermediate federal appellate courts. Created in 1891 pursuant to Article III of the U.S. Constitution, the courts relieve the U.S. Supreme Court from the burden of handling all appeals from cases decided by federal trial (district) courts. Twelve courts which review, cases from U.S. district courts. Each court serves a circuit, made up of two or more states or the District of Columbia District of Columbia, federal district (2000 pop. 572,059, a 5.7% decrease in population since the 1990 census), 69 sq mi (179 sq km), on the east bank of the Potomac River, coextensive with the city of Washington, D.C. (the capital of the United States). . U.S. District Court 94 courts across the country that try federal criminal and civil cases. U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit Reviews civil cases dealing with minor claims against the U.S. government; also hears appeals in patent-rights cases and cases involving international trade. U.S. Claims Court Tries federal cases involving amounts over $10,000 and cases involving government contractors A government contractor is a private company that produces goods or services under contract for the government. Often the terms of the contract specify cost plus – i.e., the contractor gets paid for its costs, plus a specified profit margin. . U.S. Court of International Trade Tries cases involving conflicts over imports and exports. QUESTIONS 1. The Supreme Court agrees to review a case when how many Justices grant a writ of certiorari? -- 2. What is the definition of jurisdiction? -- 3. In which kinds of cases does the Supreme Court have original jurisdiction? -- 4. What kinds of appeals must the Supreme Court hear? -- 5. How does the Supreme Court set precedents? -- 6. What do you think happens to a case that the Supreme Court refuses to hear? -- 7. Can a lower court decide if a law is unconstitutional? -- 8. What kinds of cases do state supreme courts review? -- 9. Which court handles federal lawsuits involving imports and exports? -- 10. Imagine that you created a sugar-free bubble A bit in bubble memory or a symbol in a bubble chart. gum with vitamins Vitamins Definition Vitamins are organic components in food that are needed in very small amounts for growth and for maintaining good health. The vitamins include vitamin D, vitamin E, vitamin A, and vitamin K, or the fat-soluble vitamins, and folate . But someone has stolen, your patent. In which court should you file your complaint? -- ANSWERS 1. Four or more 2. The area over which a person or group has legal authority. 3. The Court must hear cases that may set a precedent, including those in which a state sues another state or the federal government. 4. Appeals that seek to declare federal or state laws unconstitutional. 5. Only the Supreme Court has the final authority to determine whether laws, the actions of public officials, and lower-court rulings are legal according to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. the Constitution. 6. In cases the Court refuses to hear, the lower court's ruling stands 7. Yes, but the Supreme Court has the right to overturn the lower court's ruling. 8. They review state appellate court rulings. 9. U.S. Court of International Trade 10. U.S. Claims Court |
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