Judicial Flashcards
Can a U.S. Supreme Court Justice be impeached?
Yes
Can a U.S. Supreme Court ruling be appealed?
No
Are federal judges ever elected?
No
How many people serve on the U.S. Supreme Court?
9
Are district courts part of the federal court system?
Yes
What does the Judicial Branch of government do?
Interprets laws
How do superior court judges in California get their jobs?
By county elections, but vacancies are filled by the governor
Cases that involve the Constitution are handled by which court system…federal or state?
Federal
What court case gave people a guarantee of rights if they are arrested?
Miranda v. Arizona (1966)
A party defending against a lawsuit is called the __________.
Defendant
Can the U.S. Supreme Court rule that a law is not constitutional?
Yes
A party who starts a lawsuit is called the __________.
Plaintiff
What is a minor crime called?
A misdemeanor
How do we decide how many district courts a state will have?
By the population of the state
There are 2 types of court cases, what are they?
Criminal and civil
What is a “brief” in a court case?
A written argument
Is there a jury on U.S. Supreme Court cases?
No
When a U.S. Supreme Court Justice agrees with a decision, but not necessarily with the reasons for that decision, it is called a __________ or __________ opinion.
Concurring or majority
How do Supreme Court Justices get their jobs?
- Appointed by the President
- Approved by the Senate
A party appealing a court decision is known as the _________.
Appellant
What is the supreme law of the land?
The U.S. Constitution
What are the people who serve under the Chief Justice called?
Associate Justices
What is the minimum number of district courts a state must have?
1
What is a serious crime called?
A felony
How long does a U.S. Supreme Court Justice serve for?
Life or until retirement
How do district judges get their jobs?
- Appointed by the President
- Approved by the Senate
For judicial purposes, the United States and its protectorates are divided into ______ circuits.
13
If a person had a claim against the U.S. government, what court would hear the case?
Court of Claims
Who presides over the U.S. Supreme Court? (Name the position.)
Chief Justice
How many votes form a majority in the U.S. Supreme Court?
5
The U.S. Supreme Court decides cases by a ________ majority vote.
Simple
Our court system is derived from another country—what country?
England
A superior court is part of the federal court system, True or False?
False
Who are the 4 current women serving in the U.S. Supreme Court?
● Sonia Sotomayor
● Elena Kagan
● Amy Coney Barrett
● Ketanji Brown Jackson
What court would handle simple misdemeanor cases (traffic citations, etc.) in California?
The superior court
What court case established the power of the U.S. Supreme Court to review laws and compare them to Constitutional rights?
Marbury v. Madison (1803)
When a U.S. Supreme Court justice disagrees with a court decision, he or she may write a __________.
Dissenting opinion
What court case established the “separate but equal” policy that maintained segregation in some states’ public education facilities?
Plessy v. Ferguson (1896)
What court case overturned the “separate but equal” policy and led to the integration of all schools?
Brown v. Topeka Board of Education (1954)
The power to establish the lower court system was given to whom?
Congress
The U.S. is divided into districts for federal courts. How many districts are there?
94
Who is the current Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court?
John Roberts
What are two types of jurisdictions the U.S. Supreme Court has on cases?
Original and Appellate
What does the U.S. Supreme Court set when it rules on a case?
Precedent
What type of jurisdiction allows the U.S. Supreme Court to hear a case never argued in a court of law?
Original Jurisdiction
What type of jurisdiction allows the U.S. Supreme Court to review a case already heard in a lower court?
Appellate Jurisdiction
What court case prohibits public school officials from barring students’ expression of free speech as long as it does not disrupt the educational process?
Tinker v. Des Moines (1969)
What court case held that the President had the de facto authority to act in seizing vessels bound toward Confederate ports after the United States was attacked by other states at Ft. Sumter?
The Prize Cases (1863)
What is the highest court of the land?
U.S. Supreme Court
