Gov 16.txt

Plaintiffs have a serious interest in the case

Lawsuits permitting a mall number of people to sue on behalf of all other people in unilateral situations

Case must be able to be solved by law

Legal briefs submitted to raise additional points not contained in the parties briefs

Courts that hear the case first usually in trial

• Courts that hear cases on appeal
• Only review legal issues not factual record

• 91 courts
• Only federal courts where trials are held and juries impaneled

Appellate courts that review decisions of district courts

• Uniformity in interpreting national law, resolves state conflicts
• Controls its agenda

Nominations for state-level federal judicial posts aren't confirmed if opposed by a senator of the president's party from the state the judge will serve in

• Presidential appointee
• Third ranking office in the Department of Justice
• In charge of appellate court litigation

Statement of legal reasoning behind a judicial decision

Let the decision stand

How similar cases were decided in the past

Constitution should be interpreted by original intent of the Framers

• Whether court decisions become policies
• Courts rely on other units of gov't to enforce decisions

• 1803 asserted rights of the Supreme Court
• Established judicial review

Power of the court to determine the constitutionality of acts of Congress

1974 doctrine of executive privilege was in the Constitution but couldn't protect document in criminal proceedings

Judges play minimal policymaking roles

• Judges make bold policy decisions
• New constitutional ground

• Avoid deciding some cases
• Especially between Congress and the president

Judicial interpretation of Congressional acts