Compare And Contrast State Courts Vs Federal Courts

Shane Butler

JUS-261

March, 8, 2018

Professor Charles Tucker Jr.

1-2 Short Paper

The United Stated federal court system was created by the framers. Although similar, courts in the federal system work differently than state courts. Federal courts are courts of limited jurisdiction, meaning they can only hear cases authorized by the United States Constitution or federal statutes. The federal court system has three main levels. The first level in the federal court system are the district courts, or trial courts. The district courts serve as general trial courts of the federal court system. Each Unites States district court has at least one District Judge, who is selected by the President and confirmed by the Senate. District courts only handle

The losing party in a decision by a district court within the federal courts would then appeal the decision to a federal court of appeals. Circuit courts are the first level of appeal. The appeals courts decide whether lower trial courts applied the law correctly in their decisions. There are a total of twelve federal circuits that divide the country into different regions. After the circuit court or state supreme court has decided on a case, either party may then appeal to the Supreme. There are several ways in which Cases Reach the Supreme Court. This can be through Appeals to Courts of Appeals Decisions, Appeals from State Supreme Courts, and any under Court’s Original Jurisdiction, which is the least likely way. Those wishing to appeal the ruling of a lower court file a petition, or writ of certiorari. After examining the petition for review and supporting materials, the court decides whether to grant or deny review. The Supreme Court can choose which cases to hear, by granting writs of certiorari., which is like petition. If the petition is granted, the Supreme Court will prepare briefs and conduct oral arguments. If it is not granted, the lower court’s opinion stands. The Supreme Court of the United States, the final level of appeal in the federal system. The Supreme Court also has the power to decide appeals on all cases

is the highest court in the nation. Again, the members of the Court are referred to as “justices” and, like other federal judges, are appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate. They generally serve for a life term. There are nine justices on the Supreme Court. This includes one chief justice and eight associate justices. Although there is no set requirements to be selected, all current members of the court are lawyers, have served as circuit court judges, and are often former law professors. The majority of the Supreme Court’s cases today are heard on appeal from the lower courts. These cases usually come from the federal courts of appeal, but the Court does sometimes hear appeals from the state Supreme Courts as well. The Justices of the Supreme Court are most likely to take cases that will affect the entire country. They want to clarify legal matters that are important to as many people as possible, so they take cases that will have a large constitutional impact, or that answer important legal questions that affect the whole