Judicial Branch (Supreme Court)
Supreme Court Justices
9 justices
The Chief Justice
John Roberts (2005-present)
8 associate justices
There are no specific constitutional requirements to become a justice
serve for life to avoid political ties
Court System
Court of Appeals
District Courts
Supreme Court
Located in Washington D.C.
1,000s of cases are submitted nut only about 100 can be tried
If the court declines to hear a case the court of appeals decision is final
The losing side of the court of appeals can appeal to this court
13 Courts
9th circuit in San Francisco
Each has a panel of judges to decided if a case was trialed correctly
The judges can uphold the decision of the lower court and the outcome of the stands or they can be retried
Each state has one of the 94 district courts
District court in Montana: Helena, Great Falls, Missoula, Butte, Billings
Lower federal courts are divided on cases which they has jurisdiction or authority over.
Checks on the Legislative Branch
Can declare acts of legislature unconstitutional
Checks on the Executive Branch
Can declare presidential actions unconstitutional