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The American Court System, Federal Court System - Coggle Diagram

- - - - All disputes prior were settled according to local custom
      - The idea was to set up common rules for the entire nation
      - Judges began writing decisions in Year Books as cases increased
        
        So that prior established principles could be used as a basis for current cases
        
        "Common law system"
        
        "Stare Decisis" - to stand on decided cases
  - - - Any subject of concern to federal government
    - - Criminal codes, commercial law etc.
- - - - 50 states make up 89 of those
      - The rest are Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, D.C., Guam & the Northern Mariana islands
  - - - Unless...
        
        A panel of 3 or more judges reviews a record of the case
        
        appellate court finds clearly contrary evidence to what was presented at trial OR no evidence to support their finding
  - - - Since 1869 there's been 9
    - - No right of absolute appeal
      - Appellate jurisdiction is almost entirely discretionary
      - Factors that bear upon the decision
        
        Whether a legal question has been decided differently by various lower courts and needs resolution by the S.C.
        
        Whether a lower court decision could have significance beyond the parties in dispute
        
        Whether the Solicitor General is pressuring the court to take the case
      - Petitions are grated for review
        
        Requires "Rule of Four"
        
        90% of petitions for review are denied
    - - They do a ton of research on all legal issues involved in the case
      - The court normally does not hear evidence
        
        Attorneys present oral arguments and get questioned by the justices
  - - - You can't find the proceedings or orders online
    - - Warrants can be requested without having to reveal the suspect or any public info used to justify the warrant
      - Clinton administration gave the authority to approve "Sneak & Peaks"
    - - The court can now conduct surveillance of domestic groups & agents of a foreign nation
- - - - Party must have suffered harm or been threatened
      - Justiciable controversy
        
        Controversy that is real & substantial