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