Module 3: State and Federal Court Systems

Question 1

Trial Court

Answer 1

• Determines the facts

- Verdicts and liability

Question 2

Appellate Court

Answer 2

• Parties file to challenge trial court rulings or results

- Check for errors made at the trial court

Question 3

Supreme Court

Answer 3

• Similar to appellate court
• Final check
• “Court of last resort”

Question 4

Three Levels of Courts

Answer 4

1) Trial
2) Appellate
3) Supreme

Question 5

Trial Courts also known as:

Answer 5

District courts, this is where trials are conducted.

Question 6

writ of certiorari

Answer 6

A court will invite an applicant to argue their case

Question 7

Threshold of Justices agreeing to hear the case

Answer 7

4

Question 8

Jurisdiction:

Answer 8

• The power of a court to hear a dispute and to issue a legal binding decision
• Courts don’t have the power to hear every kind of dispute

Question 9

Two Types of Jurisdiction:

Answer 9

– Subject Matter Jurisdiction
– Jurisdiction Over the Person
• A court needs both to have the power to review and issue a decision in a
particular case

Question 10

Subject Matter Jurisdiction:

Answer 10

Authority to hear cases of certain types

• EX: criminal cases, civil cases, tax cases, family cases

Question 11

Jurisdiction Over the Person

Answer 11

Authority to her cases of certain people
• EX: residents of Connecticut, people passing through New York
• Also known as Personal Jurisdiction and In Personam Jurisdiction

Question 12

Two types of Subject Matter Jurisdiction:

Answer 12

1) General Jurisdiction

2) Limited Jurisdiction

Question 13

General Jurisdiction:

Answer 13

Courts that are able to hear a wide range of
cases
– EX: Connecticut Superior (Trial) Court can hear both civil and criminal cases

Question 14

Limited Jurisdiction

Answer 14

Courts that only hear certain types of cases
– Tax Court, Bankruptcy Court, Probate Court, Family Court
– Federal Courts also have limited jurisdiction over subject matter

Question 15

Federal courts are authorized to hear two basic types of cases:

Answer 15

1) Federal Question Cases

2) Diversity Cases

Question 16

Federal Question Cases

Answer 16

Those in which the rights or obligations of a party are
created or defined by some federal law
• Laws that tend to be federally regulated: Bankruptcy Law, Banking Law, Immigration
Law, Maritime Law, and more…
• Laws that tend to be state regulated: Contract Law, Family Law, Tort Law, common
Criminal Laws, and more …

Question 17

Diversity Cases

Answer 17

Those in which:
• The parties are not from the same state, and
• The amount in controversy is greater than $75,000

Question 18

For a state court to assert Jurisdiction Over the Person, the individual
or entity the court is asserting jurisdiction over must have:

Answer 18

– Property Ownership in state
– Presence within state
– Parties agree ahead of time

Question 19

Venue Considerations:

Answer 19

– Location of event
– Location of parties
– Court workload
– High profile cases