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Federal Courts
Chapter Three
Jurisdiction
• Jurisdiction: the power of a court to decide
a dispute.
• Geographical jurisdiction: courts are
authorized to hear and decide cases within
a specific geographical jurisdiction.
• Subject matter jurisdiction: courts are
restricted by the subject matter of the case.
Jurisdiction Continued…
• Hierarchical jurisdiction: refers to
differences in the court’s functions and
responsibilities.
• Original jurisdiction: a court has the
authority to try a case and decide it.
• Appellate jurisdiction: a court has the
power to review cases that have already
been decided by another court.
Dual Court System
• The United States has 50 state courts and
the District of Columbia.
• The United States has a federal court
system that is separate from the state
system.
Federal Court System
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Supreme Court
Appellate Courts
District Courts
Tax Court
International Trade Court
U.S. Claims Court
Veteran’s Appeals
Military Courts
Basis for Federal Courts
• Legal Basis:
– Article III, Section 1, U.S. Constitution.
– Article III of the United States Constitution
establishes the judicial branch as one of the
three separate and distinct branches of the
federal government.
– The other two are the legislative and executive
branches.
U.S. District Courts
• In the federal system, the U.S. District
Courts are the federal trial courts of
original jurisdiction. Federal criminal trials
are held in this court.
• Judges are appointed for life by the
President with confirmation of the Senate.
U.S. Court of Appeals
• Originally called Circuit Court of Appeals.
• Exist to relieve the Supreme Court from
hearing the growing number of appeals.
• Judges serve for life.
• Judges are appointed by the President and
are confirmed by the Senate.
• Approximately 57,000 cases are filed
annually.
The Federal Judiciary
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Supreme Court
• Composed of eight Associate Justices and one
Chief Justice.
• Appointed by the President and confirmed by the
Senate.
• Federal judges are appointed for life.
• Can only be removed from office through
impeachment and conviction by Congress of
"Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and
Misdemeanors."
• Neither the President nor Congress can reduce
the salary of a federal judge.
“Special” Federal Courts
• The Court of International Trade: hears cases
involving international trade and customs issues.
• The United States Court of Federal Claims: hears
cases related to claims of money damages against
the United States, disputes over federal contracts,
unlawful "takings" of private property by the
federal government, and a variety of other claims
against the United States.