Judicial Branch
The judicial branch is made up of three different levels, the supreme court, appeals court, and the district courts. Together, they hold trials and make sure that laws are being enforced upon the public. The three courts differ in power, the supreme court holds the most power, and the district courts hold the least power. (see below)
Supreme Court
The Supreme Court is the most powerful court in the country. They frequently hear cases that have already gone through the district and appeals courts, giving them appellate jurisdiction. They review the decisions made in lower courts and decide the outcomes of the cases based on the constitution. The court consists of 9 justices, one chief justice, and eight associate justices. All of these positions are appointed by the President and approved by the Senate. Once sworn in, they acquire lifetime terms. The only way to remove a justice is through impeachment. They only hear a few cases each year. Many of these cases relate to federal law, mistakes in lower courts, and long term impacts.
Court of Appeals
The federal court of appeals review the procedures that occurred in lower courts. They decide cases that have been appealed by district courts. There job is to review the cases and decide whether or not they were correctly heard. There are currently 179 judges on the court. All of them have to be appointed by the President and approved by the Senate. Once sworn in, they receive lifetime terms. These judges receive a salary of $184,500
District Courts
The district courts are the lowest courts in the federal system. They hear both civil and criminal cases. There are 94 districts in the country, at least one in each state. The district courts have original jurisdiction. They hear most cases that involve federal law before all other federal court branches.
Famous Cases
Many of the cases that the Supreme Court have heard have gained large amounts of publicity. Many of the decisions that they have made are still being enforced today. Some of the most famous cases include:
- Brown vs. Board of Education
- Rowe vs. Wade
- Marbury vs. Madison
- Miranda vs. Arizona