2. The constitution created the
Supreme Court, but Congress
created all the lower federal
courts.
2 types of lower federal
courts:
Constitutional Courts
Legislative courts
3. Constitutional Courts
include:
1. Federal District Courts
2. Federal Courts of Appeal
3. The Court of
International trade
4. Trial Court-
94 Districts throughout the U.S.
Two types of juries
Grand jury
16-23 people
Determines if there is enough
evidence to send a person to trial
Petit Jury
6 or 12 people
Determines guilty or not guilty
5. Over 80% of all cases go to district courts
Most of the time they make the final decision-few
cases are appealed.
Appointed officials who work for the district court:
Attorney for each district court
- defends the govt. and prosecutes people charged with
crimes
U.S. magistrate-
issues arrest warrants
Bankruptcy judge
U.S. marshal-
makes arrests , gets jurors, keeps order in court
6. Created to deal with all the people trying to appeal to
the Supreme Court
13 Courts of Appeal throughout the U.S.
12 circuits courts, 1 national appeals court (U.S. Circuit
Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit)
7. Each cases usually has 3 judges
who make the decision
Court has 3 options:
1. uphold the original decision
2. reverse the original decision
3. send it back to a lower court
for a re-trial
8. Used be called the U.S.
Customs Court
Located in NYC
Deals with cases regarding
tariffs – people who think
the tariffs for bringing
goods in/out of the country
are too high
9. Help congress exercise its powers
Power to tax- U.S. Tax Court
Power to regulate armed forces- Court of Military
Appeals
Power to govern territories- Territorial Courts
Power to supervise D.C. – Courts of the District of
Columbia
Other Courts-
Court of Federal Claims- $ damages
Court of Veteran’s Appeals
Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court- spies and terrororists
10. Appointed by president- usually
from same political party
It’s a way for the president to
have a lasting affect even after
their presidential term is over
Life term
Most have had LOTS of judicial
experience
Former attorneys, law school
professors, congress members,
and judges
