Structure of the Court System: Crash Course Government and Politics #19

Summary

Crash Course Government and Politics explores the hierarchical structure of the U.S. court system, starting from trial courts with original jurisdiction to the Supreme Court, which handles appeals and has original jurisdiction in specific cases. The video explains the criteria for cases to reach the Supreme Court, including the need for a federal question, and discusses the court's decision rules like case or controversy, standing, mootness, and ripeness. It also touches on the court's tendency to resolve circuit splits and hear cases with clear constitutional questions.

Takeaways

• 🏛️ The U.S. court system is hierarchical, with a clear structure from trial courts to the Supreme Court.
• 🌳 Most cases start in state courts, which handle the majority of legal disputes, both civil and criminal.
• 🚫 The majority of disputes are settled outside of court, showcasing the efficiency of the legal system.
• 🏛️ U.S. District Courts are the trial courts on the federal level, with 94 courts and approximately 663 judges.
• 🔄 If a case is lost in a trial court, appeals can be made if there are procedural errors or misapplications of law.
• 📈 State courts usually have two levels of appellate courts, while the federal system has one.
• 📊 Federal appeals courts, or circuit courts, are distributed regionally, with 12 in total, impacting the ideological leaning of decisions.
• 📜 The Supreme Court has original jurisdiction in specific cases, including those involving federal laws, treaties, the U.S. Constitution, and disputes between states or involving foreign ministers.
• 📉 The Supreme Court receives around 8,000 cases per year but only issues about 80 decisions, using decision rules to select cases.
• 🚫 The Supreme Court will not hear cases that are not ripe (where the injury has not yet occurred) or are moot (no longer requiring resolution).

Q & A

What is the hierarchical structure of Crash Course as described in the script?

The hierarchy starts with Craig at the top, followed by John Green, Stan, Brandon, Zulaiha, and then a group of independent contractors. It humorously ends with an eagle at the bottom, indicating a playful and non-traditional hierarchy.

Why is the American court system described as hierarchical?

The American court system is hierarchical because it is structured with different levels of courts, each with specific jurisdictions and roles, starting from the trial courts at the bottom to the Supreme Court at the top.

What is the primary function of trial courts in the U.S. court system?

Trial courts have original jurisdiction, meaning they are the first to hear cases, both civil and criminal, and they conduct trials to determine the facts and apply the law.

How do the number of U.S. district courts and their judges compare to state courts?

There are 94 U.S. district courts with approximately 663 judges, whereas each state has its own court system, which collectively handles the majority of cases due to the larger number of state courts and judges.

What are the criteria for a case to start in federal district courts?

A case can start in federal district courts if it involves a federal law, treaties, the U.S. Constitution, or if the U.S. government is a party to the litigation.

Why might a plaintiff choose to bring a case in federal court instead of state court?

A plaintiff might choose federal court if the case meets specific federal criteria, such as involving federal law or the U.S. Constitution, or if there's a desire for a potentially more impartial judgment.

What is the role of appellate courts in the U.S. court system?

Appellate courts review decisions made by lower courts to correct legal errors. They have the authority to uphold, modify, or reverse the lower court's decision, and in the federal system, there is one level of appellate courts called circuit courts.

How does the regional distribution of federal circuit courts affect case outcomes?

The region where a case is heard can affect outcomes because judges in different circuits may have varying judicial philosophies, such as the 9th circuit being more liberal compared to the 5th circuit.

What are the four scenarios where federal courts have original jurisdiction?

Federal courts have original jurisdiction in cases involving federal law, treaties, the U.S. Constitution, and cases where the U.S. government is a party to the litigation.

How does the Supreme Court's appellate jurisdiction work, and what is judicial review?

The Supreme Court's appellate jurisdiction allows it to review decisions from lower courts. Judicial review is the process by which the Supreme Court evaluates the constitutionality of laws and government actions when hearing a case.

What are the circumstances under which the Supreme Court has original jurisdiction?

The Supreme Court has original jurisdiction in cases between the U.S. and a state, between two or more states, involving foreign ministers or ambassadors, and in cases brought by citizens of one state against another or a foreign country.

Why does the Supreme Court not hear many cases, and what are some of its decision rules?

The Supreme Court does not hear many cases due to its limited number of justices and the high volume of requests. It has decision rules such as requiring a case or controversy, standing, and avoiding moot or unripe cases to weed out cases it does not wish to hear.

What is a 'circuit split' and why does it often lead to the Supreme Court hearing a case?

A 'circuit split' occurs when different federal circuit courts reach conflicting conclusions on the same legal issue. The Supreme Court often hears such cases to provide a统一 interpretation of the law and resolve the confusion.