O R G A N I Z A T I O N
I. Nature of U.S. Courts
A. Courts as Political Institutions (but of a special kind)
B. Basic Functions
1. To Decide Cases Under the Law
a. civil
b. criminal
e. equity
2. Constitutional Law and Judicial Review, Federalist #78
C. Duality and Wide Diversity
II. Structural Features
A. Article III
C. Congressional Structuring of Federal Courts -- Court Links
1. Trial Courts
3. Specialized Courts (Bankruptcy Courts)
D. Office of the Attorney General
E. Relationship Between Federal and State Courts
1. Diversity Cases
2. Jumping the Federal Gap
3. Judicial Councils
F. Hierarchical Nature of Courts
G. Federal Court Administration
1. The Federal Judicial Conference (details)
2. The Administrative Office of U.S. Courts
3. The Federal Judicial Center
III. Jurisdiction of Federal Courts
A. Case Requirement
1. adverse parties
2. substantial legal interests
3. real set of facts
4. enforceable judicial determination of issue
B. Subject Matter Jurisdiction
1. U.S. law and Constitution
2. U.S. treaties
3. maritime cases
4. admiralty cases
C. Nature of Parties Jurisdiction
IV. United States Supreme Court (Oyez, Oyez, Oyez)
A. Original Jurisdiction
B. Appellate Jurisdiction
D. Appointments
E. Personnel `
Members of the U.S. Supreme Court (Demographics of the Supreme Court)
John Roberts, Chief Justice (2005)
John Paul Stevens (1975)
Antonin Scalia (1986)
Anthony Kennedy (1988)
Clarence Thomas (1991)
Ruth Bader Ginsburg (1993)
V. State Courts - Colorado
A. Structure
1. trial courts of general jurisdiction
2. trial courts of limited jurisdiction
3. intermediate appellate courts
4. courts of final jurisdiction
B. Jurisdiction
Key Web Sites
Federal Judicial Home Page - FAQ's
