American Courts
I. THE JUDICIAL POWER
A. DECIDING CASES AND CONTROVERSIES
-- adverse parties
-- substantial legal interests
-- real set of facts
-- enforceable judicial determination of issue
1. CRIMINAL CASES
2. CIVIL CASES
3. CASES IN EQUITY
C. AUXILIARY POWERS
1. WRITS
2. CONTEMPT
D. COMMON LAW TRADITION (civil and common law development)
1. VIS A' VIS STATES (Martin v. Hunter's Lessee)
2. VIS A' VIS FEDERAL AGENCIES (Marbury v. Madison - You Tube Dramatization)
II. STRUCTURE OF AMERICAN FEDERAL JUDICIAL SYSTEM (explanation - map)
A. DUALITY
2. FEDERAL COURTS
a. LOWER COURTS
b. SUPREME COURT
(1) JUSTICES (picture; biographies)
(2) OPERATIONS
2. STATE CONSTITUTIONS AND LEGISLATION
B. INDEPENDENCE
C. DECENTRALIZATION
D. APPELLATE-TRIAL COURT DISTINCTION
III. COURT JURISDICTION
A. FEDERAL
SUBJECT MATTER JURISDICTION
-- U.S. law and Constitution
-- U.S. treaties
-- maritime cases
--admiralty cases
NATURE OF PARTIES JURISDICTION
to controversies to which the United States shall be a party;--to controversies between two or more states;--between a state and citizens of another state;--between citizens of different states;-- between citizens of the same state claiming lands under grants of different states, and between a state, or the citizens thereof, and foreign states, citizens or subjects.
B. STATE & LOCAL COURT JURISDICTION
IV. JUDICIAL RECRUITMENT
A. FEDERAL (CURRENT VACANCIES)
1. LOWER COURTS (MAP)
2. SUPREME COURT (Appointments Since 1789; Oyez, Oyez, Oyez -- recording)
B. STATE COURTS (State Court Organization, 1987-2004)
1. ELECTIONS
Key Web Sites
Federal Judicial Home Page - FAQ's
Listing of All Supreme Court Justices
The Supreme Court Historical Society
