U N I T E D S T A T E
S C O U R T
O R G A N I Z A T I O N
I. Basic Nature of U.S.
Courts
A. Courts as Political
Institutions (but of a special kind)
B. Functions: Basic Role: To Decide Cases Under the Law
C. Duality and Wide
Diversity
II. Structural Features
A. Article III
B. 1789 Judiciary Act
C. Congressional Structuring of Federal
Courts
1. Trial Courts (federal courts throughout the
states)
2. Appellate Courts
3. Specialized
Courts (Bankruptcy Courts)
D. Office
of the Attorney General
1. United States Attorneys
2. Solicitor General
E. Duality of U.S. Courts
F.
Relationship Between Federal and State
Courts
1.
Diversity
Cases
2.
Jumping the Federal Gap
3.
Judicial Councils
G.
Hierarchical Nature
of Courts
H. Federal Court Administration
1.
The Federal Judicial Conference
2.
The Administrative Office of U.S. Courts
3.
The Federal Judicial Center
I. Article I Courts
III. Jurisdiction of Federal Courts (Examples)
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
ambassadors, other public
ministers and consuls; 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.
IV. United States
Supreme Court (a
brief history)
A. Original
Jurisdiction
B. Appellate Jurisdiction
C. Choosing and Hearing Cases (Oyez,
Oyez, Oyez)
D. Personnel
John Roberts,
Chief Justice (2005)
V. State Courts - Colorado
A. Structure (map)
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
U.S.
Courts Home Page
Judicial
Branch - InfoUSA
Federal Judicial Home
Page - FAQ's
Federal Judicial
Home Page
National
Center for State Courts: Web Sites
Legal Information
Institute
Find the Law
National Center for State
Courts
C-Span
Court Page
Federal
Courts Compared with State Courts