Presentation Transcript

1. Powers of the Federal Courts

   Chapter 11, Section 1
2. Powers of the Federal Courts Constitution calls for supreme court to balance powers of other 2 branches of govt. Played minor role until Chief Justice John Marshall appointed in 1801 Served until 1835 Helped increase power of supreme court Today SC is equal to other branches
3. Jurisdiction of the Courts US judiciary = made up of parallel systems of fed. and state courts Each state has own system of courts  power from state constitutions Fed. Courts made up of supreme court & lower fed. Courts  power from US Constitution Federal Court Jurisdiction Jurisdiction – authority to hear certain cases State courts = jurisdiction over cases involving state laws Fed courts = jurisdiction over cases involving fed. Laws Sometimes jurisdiction overlaps
4. Jurisdiction of the Courts Cont. Constitution gives fed. Courts jurisdiction over cases involving US laws Treaties Interpretation of the Constitution Fed. Courts also have jurisdiction over Bankruptcy Maritime law Cases involving certain people and parties: ambassadors, two or more state govts., US govt., citizens who are residents of other states
5. Jurisdiction of the Courts Cont. Sometimes both state and fed. Courts have jurisdiction, known as Concurrent Jurisdiction Original and Appellate Jurisdiction Court in which case is originally tried = trial court Trial court has original jurisdiction in fed. Courts dist. Courts have original jurisdiction Lost cases can appeal a decision  take the case to court of appeals (appellate jurisdiction) Cases lost in court of appeals can appeal the decision to the SC (has both original and appellate jurisdiction)
6. Developing Supreme Court Power Early Precedents Principles est. early in SC’s history SC or other fed. Court can’t initiate action Judge or justice can’t seek out an issue and urge someone to bring it to court Courts must wait for litigants – people engaged in a lawsuit – to come before them Court will only determine cases  will not answer legal questions Marbury v. Madison Secured the power of judicial review
7. Developing Supreme Court Power Cont. John Marshall’s Influence Fletcher v. Peck - court can review state laws McCulloch v. Maryland- states can’t hamper national interests Gibbons v. Ogden – broadened meaning of interstate commerce States’ Rights Era and the Scott Case Pres. Jackson nominated 7 justices while in office Began to emphasize states’ rights Dred Scott v. Stanford
8. Due Process After Civil War 13th, 14th, 15th amendments passed to give rights to African Americans Courts didn’t strongly applyDue Process Clause – no state may deprive a person of life, liberty, or property without due process of law – on 14th amendment when individuals challenged states Slaughterhouse Cases Louisiana granted monopoly on slaughterhouses to 1 company  butchers challenge grant under due process Court rules in favor of Louisiana Plessy v. Ferguson SC upheld Louisiana law requiring RRs to have separate cars for whites and African Americans Est. the “separate but equal” doctrine
9. Due Process Cont. The Court and Business Courts didn’t expand fed. Power to enforce rights of individuals BUT did broaden police power of states to protect consumers from growing power of business Granger Cases – court rejected challenge to state regulatory laws Protecting Civil Liberties SC = force for protecting civil liberties under Chief Justice Earl Warren Ex: Brown v. Board of Ed of Topeka