Professional Documents
Culture Documents
I N T H E U N I T E D S TAT E S
P R E FA C E
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Trial Courts
Appellate Courts
The United States Supreme Court
THE JURISDICTION OF THE FEDERAL COURTS
Relationship Between the State Courts and the Federal Courts
Types of Cases that May be Filed in the Federal and State Courts
UNITED STATES FEDERAL JUDGES
Appointment of Judges
Article III Judges
Other Federal Judges
State Judges
Federal Judicial Ethics
Judges Compensation
Senior and Retired Judges
Judicial Education
Judges Staff
DISTINCTIVE FEATURES OF THE AMERICAN JUDICIAL SYSTEM
The Adversary System
The Common Law System
Fees and Costs of Litigation
Execution of Judgments
Procedural Rules for Conducting Litigation
Reporting of Judicial Proceedings
Publication of Court Opinions
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LIST OF FEATU R E S
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GEOGRAPHIC BOUNDARIES OF THE U.S. COURTS OF APPEALS AND THE U.S. DISTRICT COURTS 14
EXAMPLES OF JURISDICTION IN THE FEDERAL AND STATE COURTS
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The federal judiciary is a totally separate, selfgoverning branch of the government. The
federal courts often are called the guardians
of the Constitution because their rulings
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THE ROLE OF T H E
FEDERAL COURT S I N
AMERICAN GOVERNM E N T
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THE STRUCTURE OF T H E
FEDERAL COU RT S
Appellate courts
TRIAL COURTS
United States Courts of Appeals
(12 Regional Courts of Appeals
and the Court of Appeals for
the Federal Circuit)
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Trial courts
United States District Courts
(94 judicial districts and the United
States Bankruptcy Courts)
Court of International Trade
Court of Federal Claims
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Other federal tribunals that are
not within the judicial branch
Military Courts (trial and appellate)
United States Court of Veterans
Appeals
United States Tax Court
Administrative agency offices and
boards
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AND THE
D.C. CIRCUIT
WASHINGTON, D.C.
FEDERAL CIRCUIT
WASHINGTON, D.C.
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THE JURISDICTION OF T H E
FEDERAL COU RT S
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E X A M P L E S O F J U R I S D I C T I O N I N T H E F E D E R A L A N D S TAT E C O U R T S
State Courts
Federal Courts
Congress
or state law
regulations
environmental regulation
bankruptcy law)
admiralty cases
most issues involving the regulation
of trades and professions
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UNITED STAT E S
FEDERAL JUD G E S
APPOINTMENT OF JUDGES
ARTICLE III JUDGES
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JUDGES COMPENSATION
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DISTINCTIVE FEATU R E S
OF THE AMERI C A N
JUDICIAL SYS T E M
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guidelines.
A sentence may include time in prison, a
fine to be paid to the government, community
service, and restitution to be paid to crime
victims. If the convicted defendant is released,
the courts probation officers assist the court in
enforcing any conditions that are imposed as
part of a criminal sentence. The supervision
of offenders also may involve services such as
substance abuse testing and treatment programs,
job counseling, and alternative detention options.
JURY SERVICE
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J U R O R Q U A L I F I C AT I O N S
AND EXEMPTIONS
Qualifications to be a Juror:
Length of Service:
Payment:
Employment Protections:
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BANKRUPTCY CASES
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FEDERAL J U D I C I A L
ADMINIS T R AT I O N
INDIVIDUAL COURTS
COUR T STAFF
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Court Reporter
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Defender Services
Federal-State Jurisdiction
Financial Disclosure
Information and Technology
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INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
IN THE JUDICIAL BRANCH
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ACCOUN TA B I L I T Y
DISCIPLINARY MECHANISMS
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INFORMAL MECHANISMS
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COMMONLY AS K E D
QUESTIONS ABOUT T H E
FEDERAL JUDICIAL PROC E S S
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COMMON LEGA L T E R M S
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criminal defendant.
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bankruptcy case.
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Sources of Additional
Information:
The Federal Courts and What They
Do (Federal Judicial Center, 2006)
Getting Started as a Federal Judge
(Administrative Office, 2005)
Long Range Plan for the Federal
Courts (Judicial Conference of
the U.S., 1995)
Judiciary website addresses:
United States Supreme Court:
www.supremecourtus.gov
Administrative Office of the
United States Courts:
www.uscourts.gov
Federal Judicial Center:
www.fjc.gov
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