The Judiciary
Chapter 14
1
The Power of the Federal Courts
The unique American judicial experience
Judicial review
– Strict-constructionist approach
– Judicial activism
2
Structure of the Court
Constitutional courts
District courts
Courts of appeals
Selecting judges
– Senatorial courtesy
– “Litmus test”
3
The Supreme Court
Jurisdiction
Writ of certiorari
– Four judges agree to hear an appeal; 96% denied
In forma pauperis and fee shifting
Standing
4
Map 14.1: U.S. District and
Appellate Courts
5
Federal Courts
6
Florida’s Court System
County courts
Circuit courts
District courts
Supreme Court
7
Criminal Procedure
Arrest
Indictment
Arraignment
Trial
Verdict and sentence
Appeal
Parole
8
Table 14.2: How Partisanship Affects
Judicial Attitudes
9
Figure 14.3: Patterns of Public
Confidence in the Court
Source: Updated from The Gallup Poll: Public
Opinion 1991 (Wilmington, Del.: Scholarly
Resources, Inc., 1992), 213.
10
Figure 14.1: Female and Minority Judicial
Appointments, 1963-2000
Source: Harold W. Stanley and Richard Niemi, Vital Statistics
on
11 American Politics, 2001-2002 (Washington, D.C.:
Figure 14.1: Female and Minority Judicial
Appointments, 1963-2000 (cont’d)
Source: Harold W. Stanley and Richard Niemi, Vital Statistics
on
12 American Politics, 2001-2002 (Washington, D.C.:
Figure 14.1: Female and Minority Judicial
Appointments, 1963-2000 (cont’d)
Source: Harold W. Stanley and Richard Niemi, Vital Statistics
on
13 American Politics, 2001-2002 (Washington, D.C.:
Table 14.1: Chief Justices of the
United States
14
Table 14.3: Supreme Court Justices in
Order of Seniority, 1999
15