美国司法结构.pptVIP

Judicial System in America Outline The Federal courts system District Courts(94) U.S. Courts of appeals(13) U.S. Supreme Court Special Courts The State Court System State Supreme Court Court of Appeals (Appellate Court ) State Trial Court or Circuit Court The District of Columbia The court structure 1.Federal court system The US Constitution only vaguely defines the organization of a court system, calling simply for a Supreme Court, with inferior courts to be created by Congress. In the Judiciary Act of 1789, the First Congress divided the nation into districts, an essential principle of division that continues today. The current national court structure in the United States, from bottom to top, includes district courts, courts of appeals, and one Supreme Court. District court There are currently 94 district courts. Each state has at least one district court, and there is one in the District of Columbia and one in Puerto Rico. Large states have more than one. This is the level at which most national work is done. There may be one or more judges at each district court. District judgeships are filled by the President with the consent of the Senate. All district judges hold office for life, though they can be impeached. District courts are courts of original jurisdiction, and so, if one violates a federal law, he will be charged in a district court. These are the only national courts that use grand juries and petit juries. Trial Jury Trial jury decides whether the defendant committed the crime as charged in a criminal case, or whether the defendant injured the plaintiff in a civil case. ? Consists of 6-12 people. ? Trials are generally public, but jury deliberations are private. Grand Jury The grand jury determines whether there is “probable cause” to believe the individual has committed a crime and should be put on trial. If the grand jury determines there is enough evidence, an indictment will be issued a