POLI 4021 Mid term LSU --- Supreme Court

the nickname for todays supreme court (since 2005)

• how judges should be appointed and how long they should serve and this is what he decided:
• Defense of the judiciary – said that it was the weakest branch of government Court can execute its
• rulings

precedent

A legal rule established by a judicial decision that guides subsequent decisions

Reliance on past decisions or precedents to formulate current decisions that guides subsequent decision "let the decision stand"

Congress sets up the lower federal courts 

is where the Supreme Court gets its power

• the highest court, has final authority over any decision involving the U.S. Constitution of federal Law.\
• ·        
• Supreme court may also review the constitutionality of legistation and actions by state and local government  ( Judicial review)

Authority to hear cases involving disputes between states, and matters involving forign countries

• have tenure during good behavior 
• Salaries can not be diminished while seving

the power of the courts to strick down stature by Congress of the President if deemed unconsitutional

Not given to the courts by the Constitution, but by the Supreme Court Decision (Marbury v Madison)

Two court systems, state and federal, operating at the same time in the same geographical area

• Criminal 
• Civil

involves accusations that individuals or groups have violated state statues and should be punished

EX State v Criminal defendant in trail court or Defendant v state in appelate 

involves individuals, business, or groups, seeking compensation from those they accusej of violating contracts, causing personal injuries, or property damage

the jursitcation of the courts that hear a case first, usually in a trial. Courts of orginal jursitiction decide facts

• 1) determine facts of a case
• 2) Typically a jury trial
• 3) sometimes a bench trail 

• The power vested in a particularcourt to review and/or reise lower court decisions
•  They hear matters of law ; make sure errors did not occur

• 1) Correct errors
• 2) determine matters of law
• 3) no jury 
• 4) Groups of judges make decisions

• 1) US court of Appeals in the fed 
• 2) 11 Circuits (LA 5th)\
• 3) Intermediate Appellate Courts in some states 

• highest appellate court in the state/ fed
• US supreme court in fed sysederal system 
• state supreme court in the states 

• Original Jurisitction  (Article III)
•    Cases involving "Ambassadors, public ministers and those         in which the state shall be a party
• Appelate Jurisdication  (controlled and created by the Supreme Court)

In appelate court groups of judges make decisions 

In trial courts juries make most decisions and are guides by 1 judge.