’WPC5 tcsõŻXµŸ ߀C¬k¼ķ·°ČS5?ŅźTROĮå«ß ²Ēh°ØĖ?~n§Ł2Ķną“5W|YńńĖD»bĄ~ę•v^ŖĘAō`ÄqÆ<[ętƒųŲęś9 ń„%zmĆR ļÆu k#ų•Ü?XjGā­`@KW™Ø” TĄT4#ē€rū ł^Ķä1M‡.ų•HŲ•ŗ½ųŠņ;Ó}³t!”8P8ŻĶ»—>2E,BHēi¤ĖÜw”Į‹C)ˆ~óŪ¾n޲Žį@$Ģ‚˜µóDŒ—9NĖĻāÜ~9ā¾÷"迀,Č|z:ēŽe¶ņUE¹ņ½"·3Į#v&ĒŁČ½ČąbēowK%g锸«—~å=•Øś”R›5ɟX]”ZĀ{Ÿ…‰²BfĄ ū­«¼Ź_wĶQē=Ó0ølįµÖŽĢl‘ŽĒAĆķā&ĮĮkō†Ņ-m'r|‹,|3]’ń8a„éßō‰Ęv‘ŠA(mĻ02Ż÷»š–&5!“\2YgÖjõ’Ž{ŻY«HÜCdåżŽ7dݵ°æņ½ĘBHhFŒ”ī°/?k†„%1Ė™™C="§Ūŗ>Ć»hX*¶©Ä$Rټī÷Œā•jrŖ  #ĮšUN[ %© 0:Æ^ éwõ4ł  m˜Brother HL-1240 series,Č,,,,,Č0(ÖĆ9 Z‹6Times New Roman RegularX(üœ$””ŌUSUS.,Ōōf).˜ T®š+Ü¢3|x’U‹’ĄĄĄŻ ƒüœ!ŻŌUSUS.,ŌŻ  Ż€€€Š ° Š€€€€Š œģ Š€€€€Š ˆŲ Š€€€Š tÄ Š€€€€Š `° Š€€€Š L œ Š€€Š 8 ˆ Š€€€€€€€€€€Š $ t Š€ĢFederal€and€State€CourtsŠ ü L  ŠTypes€of€Federal€CourtsŠ č 8  ŠFederal€Court€CasesŠ Ō$  ŠBringing€a€Case€in€Federal€CourtŠ Ą  ŠPretrial€ActivityŠ ¬ü  ŠThe€TrialŠ ˜č  ŠThe€Appeal€ProcessŠ „Ō  Š********************************Š pĄ Ѐ̀€Š H˜ Š€ĢWelcome€to€the€U.S.€Court€House.€This€information€should€help€you€understand€what€youššll€seeŠ  p Šand€hear€should€you€visit.€Youššre€encouraged€to€observe€trials€and€other€proceedings.€If€youŠ  \ Šattend€a€trial,€please€behave€in€a€manner€befitting€the€formality€of€the€courtroom.€Be€quiet€duringŠ ųH Šthe€proceedings,€and€stand€when€the€judge€enters€or€leaves€the€courtroom.€Exit€quietly€if€theŠ ä4 Šcourt€is€still€in€session€when€you€leave,€and€comply€with€the€federal€court€rules€that€forbidŠ Š  Šspectators€to€take€pictures€or€use€tape€recorders€in€the€court,€and€any€other€rules€of€the€court.€AŠ ¼  Šphoto€I.D.€may€also€be€required€to€enter€the€building.Š Øų ŠĢ€ĢĢFederal€and€State€CourtsŠ X Ø ŠThere€are€two€kinds€of€courts€in€the€United€States:Š D!” Š1.€Federal€-€Federal€courts€are€established€by€the€U.S.€government.€There€are€some€1,500€federalŠ 0"€  Šcourt€judges,€and€about€one€million€cases€are€brought€each€year€in€federal€courts.€Nearly€80%€ofŠ #l! Šthese€cases€are€bankruptcy€filings€and€approximately€10%€are€minor€criminal€cases.Š $X" ŠĢ2.€State€-€State€courts€are€established€by€a€state,€or€by€a€county€or€city€within€the€state.€There€areŠ ą%0!$ Šalmost€30,000€state€court€judges,€and€the€number€of€state€court€cases€exceeds€27€million€eachŠ Ģ&"% Šyear,€not€including€traffic€and€parking€violations.€The€cases€individual€citizens€are€most€likely€toŠ ø'#& Šbe€involved€in€such€as€robberies,€traffic€violations,€broken€contracts,€and€family€disputes€-Š ¤(ō#' Šusually€come€before€state€courts.Š )ą$( ŠĢTypes€of€Federal€CourtsŠ h+ø&* ŠArticle€III€of€the€Constitution€calls€for€a€Supreme€Court€and€whatever€other€federal€courtsŠ T,¤'+ ŠCongress€considers€necessary.€There€are€three€types€of€federal€courts:Š @-(, Ї1.€District€courts€-€Congress€has€divided€the€country€into€94€federal€judicial€districts,€each€withŠ ° Šits€own€U.S.€district€court.€The€district€courts€are€the€federal€courts€where€cases€are€tried,Š œģ Šwitnesses€testify,€and€juries€serve.€Each€district€court€has€a€separate€bankruptcy€court.Š ˆŲ ŠĢ2.€Courts€of€appeals€-€Congress€has€grouped€the€districts€into€12€regions,€called€circuits,€eachŠ `° Šwith€a€court€of€appeals.€There€is€also€a€federal€circuit,€which€covers€the€entire€country.€If€a€personŠ L œ Šloses€a€trial€in€a€district€court,€that€person€can€appeal€the€case€to€the€court€of€appeals,€which€willŠ 8 ˆ Šreview€the€case€to€see€if€the€district€court€judge€applied€the€law€correctly.€The€map€shows€theŠ $ t Šgeographical€boundaries€of€the€94€districts€and€the€12€regional€circuits€(11€numbered€circuits€andŠ  ` Šthe€District€of€Columbia€Circuit).€The€courts€of€appeals€also€review€cases€decided€by€someŠ ü L  Šfederal€agencies,€such€as€the€National€Labor€Relations€Board.Š č 8  ŠĢ3.€The€Supreme€Court€-€The€U.S.€Supreme€Court€in€Washington,€D.C.,€is€the€most€famousŠ Ą  Šfederal€court.€€Cases€from€the€court€of€appeals€in€each€circuit€and€from€the€state€supreme€courtsŠ ¬ü  Šcan€be€appealed€to€the€Supreme€Court,€but€the€Supreme€Court€does€not€have€to€hear€the€cases€itŠ ˜č  Šis€asked€to€review€and,€in€fact,€agrees€to€hear€only€a€very€small€percentage€of€them.Š „Ō  ŠReturn€Š pĄ ŠĢFederal€Court€CasesŠ H˜ ŠJurisdiction€-€Jurisdiction€refers€to€the€kinds€of€cases€a€court€is€authorized€to€hear.€Federal€courtsŠ 4„ Šdonššt€have€the€same€broad€jurisdiction€that€state€courts€have.€Federal€court€jurisdiction€is€limitedŠ  p Što€the€kinds€of€cases€listed€in€the€Constitution€(Article€III,€Section€2).€Usually,€federal€courts€onlyŠ  \ Šhear€cases€involving€the€Constitution,€laws€passed€by€Congress,€cases€in€which€the€United€StatesŠ ųH Šis€a€party,€cases€involving€foreign€diplomats,€and€some€special€kinds€of€cases,€such€as€incidentsŠ ä4 Šat€sea€and€bankruptcy€cases.€Federal€courts€also€hear€cases€that€are€based€on€state€laws€but€thatŠ Š  Šinvolve€parties€from€different€states.Š ¼  ŠĢCivil€cases€-€Lawyers€use€the€term€š špartyšš€to€describe€a€participant€in€a€civil€case.€A€party€can€beŠ ”ä Ša€person€or€a€corporation,€but,€in€either€situation,€a€civil€case€involves€a€claim€by€one€party€(theŠ €Š Šplaintiff€that€another€party€(the€defendant)€failed€to€carry€out€a€legal€duty,€such€as€the€duty€nor€toŠ l¼ Šharm€others€through€carelessness€or€the€duty€to€honor€the€terms€of€a€contract.€If€a€court€finds€thatŠ X Ø Ša€defendant€failed€to€carry€out€a€legal€duty,€it€may€order€the€defendant€to€pay€compensation€to€theŠ D!” Šplaintiff€to€make€up€for€the€harm.€Most€federal€court€cases€are€civil€cases,€such€as€equalŠ 0"€  Šemployment€opportunity€claims,€claims€for€benefits€under€federal€programs,€and€suits€againstŠ #l! Šcompanies€that€may€have€violated€federal€antitrust€laws.€Appeals€to€the€courts€of€appeals€forŠ $X" Šreview€of€federal€agency€decisions€are€also€federal€civil€cases.€Š ō$D # ŠĢCriminal€cases€-€In€a€criminal€case,€a€party€(the€defendant)€is€accused€of€committing€a€crime€-€anŠ Ģ&"% Šaction€considered€to€be€harmful€to€society€as€a€whole,€not€just€to€a€specific€person.€Most€crimesŠ ø'#& Šconcern€matters€that€the€Constitution€leaves€to€the€states,€and€thus,€compared€with€the€number€ofŠ ¤(ō#' Šstate€criminal€laws€and€cases,€there€are€few€federal€criminal€laws€and€cases.€Federal€criminalŠ )ą$( Šlaws,€for€example,€deal€with€robbing€banks€whose€deposits€are€insured€by€a€federal€agency,Š |*Ģ%) Šimporting€drugs€illegally€into€the€country,€or€using€the€U.S.€mails€to€swindle€consumers.Š h+ø&* ŠReturnŠ T,¤'+ ŠŠ @-(, ŠBringing€a€Case€in€Federal€CourtŠ ° ŠFor€a€court€to€decide€a€controversy,€a€person€must€bring€it€to€court.€Also,€the€controversy€mustŠ œģ Šinvolve€a€legal€question€-€courts€donššt€resolve€every€type€of€disagreement.Š ˆŲ ŠĢCivil€cases€-€A€federal€civil€case€begins€when€someone,€or€someoneššs€lawyer,€files€a€paper€withŠ `° Šthe€clerk€of€the€court€that€states€a€claim€against€another€party,€charging€a€failure€to€fulfill€a€legalŠ L œ Šduty.€In€lawyersšš€language,€the€plaintiff€files€a€complaint€against€the€defendant.€The€defendantŠ 8 ˆ Šmay€then€file€an€answer€to€the€complaint.Š $ t ŠĢCriminal€cases€-€A€criminal€case€begins€when€the€U.S.€attorney€(a€lawyer€for€the€executiveŠ ü L  Šbranch€of€government)€or€an€assistant€tells€a€federal€grand€jury€about€evidence€that€indicates€aŠ č 8  Šspecific€person€or€organization€committed€a€crime.€If€the€grand€jury€agrees€that€there€is€enoughŠ Ō$  Ševidence€to€show€that€the€accused€party€probably€committed€the€crime,€it€issues€a€formalŠ Ą  Šaccusation,€called€an€indictment.€The€accused€party€-€the€defendant€-€is€then€brought€before€aŠ ¬ü  Šjudge€for€arraignment€and€is€asked€to€plead€š šguiltyšš€or€š šnot€guilty.šš€If€the€defendant€pleadsŠ ˜č  Šguilty,€a€time€is€set€for€sentencing.€If€the€defendant€pleads€not€guilty,€a€time€is€set€for€trial.€GrandŠ „Ō  Šjury€indictments€are€used€mainly€for€felonies,€the€more€serious€crimes.€For€misdemeanors,€theŠ pĄ Šless€serious€crimes,€and€for€some€felonies,€the€U.S.€attorney€issues€an€information,€which€takesŠ \¬ Šthe€place€of€an€indictment.Š H˜ ŠReturnŠ 4„ ŠĢPretrial€Activity€Š  \ ŠCivil€cases€-€Pretrial€conferences€are€held€before€trials€to€identify€the€issues€for€trial€and€to€avoidŠ ųH Šwasting€time€during€the€trial€on€uncontested€or€irrelevant€issues.€Through€pretrial€š šdiscovery,ššŠ ä4 Šthe€lawyers€examine€each€otherššs€documents€and€interview€each€otherššs€witnesses.€This€pretrialŠ Š  Šactivity€often€leads€to€settlement€of€the€case€before€trial.Š ¼  ŠĢCriminal€cases€-€Lawyers€for€criminal€defendants€conduct€thorough€investigations€before€trial,Š ”ä Šfrequently€focusing€on€whether€the€governmentššs€evidence€was€obtained€legally.€The€FourthŠ €Š ŠAmendment€to€the€Constitution€forbids€š šunreasonable€searches€and€seizures,šš€and€the€SupremeŠ l¼ ŠCourt€has€ruled€that€illegally€obtained€evidence€usually€canššt€be€used€at€trial.€Resolution€of€theseŠ X Ø Ševidentiary€issues€before€the€trial€can€result€either€in€the€governmentššs€dropping€the€charges€or€inŠ D!” Šthe€defendantššs€deciding€to€plead€guilty.Š 0"€  ŠReturnŠ #l! ŠĢThe€TrialŠ ō$D # ŠAlthough€there€is€an€absolute€right€to€trial€in€both€civil€and€criminal€cases,€trials€are€oftenŠ ą%0!$ Šemotionally€and€financially€draining,€and€a€person€may€not€wish€to€exercise€the€right€to€trial.Š Ģ&"% ŠAlso,€if€the€court€grants€a€summary€judgment€to€either€party€or€decides€to€dismiss€the€case,€noŠ ø'#& Štrial€is€held.€Thus,€over€90%€of€all€civil€cases€never€come€to€trial,€and€approximately€80%€ofŠ ¤(ō#' Šcriminal€defendants€plead€guilty€and€are€sentenced€without€a€trial.Š )ą$( ŠĢThe€jury€-€The€group€of€people€seated€in€a€boxed-in€area€on€one€side€of€the€courtroom€is€the€trialŠ h+ø&* Šjury€(or€petit€jury).€For€federal€criminal€cases,€there€are€usually€12€jurors,€but€for€federal€civilŠ T,¤'+ Šcases€the€number€varies€between€6€and€12.€Prospective€jurors€are€selected€at€random€from€lists€ofŠ @-(, Šregistered€voters€in€the€district€or€lists€of€licensed€drivers.€Before€each€trial,€prospective€jurorsŠ ° Šanswer€questions€to€help€the€judge€and€lawyers€determine€whether€the€jurors€can€be€impartial€inŠ œģ Šdeciding€the€particular€case.€If€the€judge€or€lawyer€believes€that€a€juror€cannot€decide€the€caseŠ ˆŲ Šimpartially€(for€example,€because€the€juror€knows€one€of€the€parties),€he€or€she€will€then€strikeŠ tÄ Šthe€prospective€juror€for€cause.€This€means€the€prospective€juror€cannot€sit€on€the€jury.€InŠ `° Šaddition€to€challenges€for€cause,€the€lawyers€have€the€right€to€reject€a€certain€number€of€jurorsŠ L œ Šfrom€the€panel€without€giving€any€justification.Š 8 ˆ ŠĢThe€judge€-€Federal€appellate€and€district€judges€are€appointed€by€the€President,€with€theŠ  ` Šapproval€of€the€Senate€(Constitution,€Article€II,€Section€2).€Federal€judges€are€sometimes€said€toŠ ü L  Šhave€life€tenure€because€they€can€hold€office€for€as€long€as€they€wish€(Constitution,€Article€III,Š č 8  ŠSection€i),€subject€to€removal€only€by€Congress€through€a€rarely€used€process€calledŠ Ō$  Šimpeachment€and€conviction€for€š štreason,€bribery,€or€other€high€crimes€and€misdemeanorsššŠ Ą  Š(Constitution,€Article€II,€Section€4).€Article€III€of€the€Constitution€also€prohibits€the€lowering€ofŠ ¬ü  Šthe€salaries€of€federal€judges.€These€two€constitutional€protections€-€life€tenure€and€unreducedŠ ˜č  Šsalary€-€allow€federal€judges€to€make€legal€rulings,€even€unpopular€ones,€without€fear€of€losingŠ „Ō  Štheir€jobs€or€having€their€salaries€cut.Š pĄ ŠBankruptcy€judges€and€magistrate€judges€assist€the€district€judges€by€conducting€some€of€theŠ \¬ Šproceedings€in€federal€courts.€Bankruptcy€judges€hear€almost€all€bankruptcy€cases.€MagistrateŠ H˜ Šjudges€prepare€the€district€judgesšš€cases€for€trial€and€conduct€trials€in€non-felony€criminal€casesŠ 4„ Šand€in€civil€cases€when€both€parties€agree€to€a€hearing€before€a€magistrate€judge.€BankruptcyŠ  p Šjudges€and€magistrate€judges€do€not€have€life€tenure,€but€serve€for€an€appointed€term.Š  \ ŠĢRole€of€judge€and€jury€-€If€the€parties€choose€a€jury€trial,€the€jury€must€determine€the€facts€overŠ ä4 Šwhich€the€parties€disagree.€If€the€parties€decide€to€leave€the€fact-finding€task€to€the€judge,€the€trialŠ Š  Šis€called€a€bench€trial.€In€either€kind€of€trial,€the€judge€decides€what€legal€standards€apply€andŠ ¼  Šwhether€any€of€the€evidence€that€the€parties€want€to€use€is€illegal€or€improper.€The€judge€alsoŠ Øų Šconducts€the€proceedings€and€sees€that€order€is€maintained.€In€a€jury€trial,€the€judge€givesŠ ”ä Šinstructions€to€the€jury,€explaining€the€relevant€law,€how€the€law€applies€to€the€case€being€tried,Š €Š Šand€what€questions€the€jury€must€decide.Š l¼ ŠĢThe€lawyers€-€During€a€trial,€the€lawyers€for€each€party€are€either€sitting€at€the€counsel€tables€orŠ D!” Šspeaking€to€the€judge,€a€witness,€or€the€jury.€In€criminal€cases,€the€lawyer€who€prosecutes€theŠ 0"€  Šclaim€is€the€U.S.€attorney€(or€an€assistant).€The€U.S.€attorney€for€each€judicial€district€is€selectedŠ #l! Šby€the€President,€with€the€approval€of€the€Senate.€The€judge€appoints€lawyers€to€representŠ $X" Šcriminal€defendants€who€canššt€afford€to€hire€a€lawyer.€Criminal€defendants€or€parties€in€a€civilŠ ō$D # Šcase€occasionally€present€their€cases€themselves,€without€the€help€of€a€lawyer.Š ą%0!$ ŠĢThe€parties€-€The€parties€may€or€may€not€be€present€at€the€counsel€tables€with€their€lawyers.Š ø'#& ŠDefendants€in€criminal€cases€have€a€constitutional€right€to€be€present.€Parties€in€civil€cases€mayŠ ¤(ō#' Šbe€present€if€they€wish.Š )ą$( ŠĢThe€witnesses€-€Witnesses€are€individuals€who€testify€under€oath€about€the€facts€in€dispute.€WhenŠ h+ø&* Štestifying,€they€sit€at€the€witness€stand,€facing€the€courtroom.€Because€they€are€asked€to€testify€byŠ T,¤'+ Šone€party€or€the€other,€they€are€often€referred€to€as€plaintiffššs€witnesses€or€defense€witnesses.Š @-(, ЇCourt€personnel€-€A€court€reporter€is€always€present€at€a€trial€because€federal€law€requires€that€aŠ ° Šword-for-word€record€be€made€of€every€proceeding.€A€courtroom€deputy€clerk,€usually€seatedŠ œģ Šnear€the€judge,€administers€the€oaths€to€the€witnesses,€marks€the€exhibits,€and€generally€helpsŠ ˆŲ Škeep€the€trial€running€smoothly.Š tÄ ŠĢAdversary€process€-€Each€side€presents€its€most€persuasive€arguments,€emphasizes€the€facts€thatŠ L œ Šsupport€its€case,€and€points€out€the€flaws€in€its€opponentššs€presentation.€According€to€AmericanŠ 8 ˆ Šjudicial€tradition,€this€š šadversary€processšš€is€the€most€effective€way€to€help€the€fact€finder€arriveŠ $ t Šat€the€truth.€The€jury€(or€judge,€at€a€bench€trial)€relies€on€two€types€of€evidence€to€decide€theŠ  ` Šcase:€physical€evidence,€such€as€documents€and€photographs,€and€the€testimony€of€witnesses.Š ü L  ŠĢStandards€of€proof€-In€criminal€cases,€the€defendant€can€be€convicted€only€if€the€jury€(or€judge)Š Ō$  Šbelieves€that€the€government€has€proven€guilt€š šbeyond€a€reasonable€doubt.šš€A€jury€verdict€mustŠ Ą  Šbe€unanimous,€meaning€that€all€twelve€jurors€must€vote€either€š šguiltyšš€or€š šnot€guilty.šš€The€jurorsŠ ¬ü  Š(or€judge)€must€be€certain€that€the€defendant€committed€the€crime;€they€can€have€no€š šreasonableŠ ˜č  Šdoubtšš€about€it.€If€the€jurors€cannot€agree,€the€judge€declares€a€mistrial,€and€the€case€must€beŠ „Ō  Špresented€to€another€jury.€In€civil€cases,€the€jury€or€judge€decides€for€the€plaintiff€if€aŠ pĄ Špreponderance€of€the€evidence€shows€that€the€defendant€failed€to€perform€a€legal€duty€andŠ \¬ Šviolated€the€plaintiffššs€rights.€A€š špreponderance€of€the€evidencešš€means€that€more€of€theŠ H˜ Ševidence€favors€the€plaintiffššs€position€than€favors€the€defendantššs.Š 4„ ŠĢAdmission€of€evidence€-€The€federal€courts€have€rules€for€determining€what€evidence€may€beŠ  \ Špresented€in€a€court€proceeding.€Sometimes€a€lawyer€tries€to€present€evidence€to€the€jury€thatŠ ųH Šmay€not€be€proper€in€light€of€these€rules.€The€opposing€lawyer€has€a€right€to€object€to€theŠ ä4 Šquestionable€evidence,€and€the€judge€must€decide€if€it€is€admissible€or€not.€If€the€judge€rules€thatŠ Š  Šthe€evidence€may€not€be€admitted,€the€opposing€lawyerššs€objection€is€š šsustained.šš€If€the€judgeŠ ¼  Šallows€the€evidence€to€be€presented,€the€objection€is€š šoverruled.ššŠ Øų ŠĢSentencing€-€The€judge€sets€a€date€for€a€sentencing€hearing€for€criminal€defendants€who€pleadŠ €Š Šguilty€or€are€found€guilty€at€trial.€Congress€has€required€judges€to€base€sentences€on€a€system€ofŠ l¼ Šguidelines€that€reflect€the€type€of€offense€and€background€of€the€offender.€Before€the€sentencingŠ X Ø Šhearing,€a€federal€probation€officer€prepares€a€pre€sentence€report€to€help€the€judge€determine€theŠ D!” Šproper€sentence,€which€can€be€imprisonment,€fines,€supervision€by€a€probation€officer,€or€someŠ 0"€  Šcombination€of€the€three€types€of€sentences.Š #l! ŠReturnŠ $X" ŠĢThe€Appeal€ProcessŠ ą%0!$ ŠThe€task€of€the€federal€courts€of€appeals€and€the€procedures€they€follow€differ€greatly€from€thoseŠ Ģ&"% Šof€the€district€courts.Š ø'#& ŠĢWho€can€appeal€-€A€defendant€found€guilty€after€a€criminal€trial€and€the€losing€party€in€a€civilŠ )ą$( Štrial€both€have€a€right€to€appeal€their€case€to€the€court€of€appeals.€Appeal€is€not€available€toŠ |*Ģ%) Šparties€who€settle€a€civil€suit€without€trial,€or€to€a€criminal€defendant€who€pleads€guilty€(exceptŠ h+ø&* Šthat€guilty-plea€defendants€can€sometimes€appeal€their€sentences).€Appeals€are€usually€based€on€aŠ T,¤'+ Šclaim€that€the€district€court€made€an€error€either€in€procedure€or€in€interpreting€the€law.€Ō_ŌTheŠ @-(, Šgovernment,€however,€cannot€appeal€if€a€criminal€defendant€is€found€not€guilty.€Otherwise,€theŠ ° Šdefendant€would€be€subjected€to€š šdouble€jeopardy,šš€which€is€forbidden€by€the€Fifth€AmendmentŠ œģ Što€the€Constitution.€The€government€can€appeal€in€civil€cases,€as€any€other€party€can.Š ˆŲ ŠĢTypes€of€appellate€decisions€-€A€court€of€appeals€can€reverse€a€district€courtššs€decision€if€it€findsŠ `° Šthat€the€trial€judge€interpreted€the€law€incorrectly.€When€the€district€court€is€reversed,€the€case€isŠ L œ Šusually€sent€back€(š šremandedšš)€to€the€district€court€for€further€proceedings€or€another€trial.€AŠ 8 ˆ Šcourt€of€appeals€can€also€affirm€a€decision€of€a€trial€judge€and€does€so€in€most€cases.Š $ t ŠĢAppellate€procedure€-€Courts€of€appeals€usually€deliberate€in€panels€of€three€judges,€who€decideŠ ü L  Šthe€case€for€the€entire€court.€Sometimes,€when€the€parties€request€it,€the€entire€appeals€court€willŠ č 8  Šreconsider€a€panelššs€decision€(called€an€š šen€bancšš€sitting).€Courts€of€appeals€review€the€recordŠ Ō$  Š(the€transcript€of€the€trial€and€the€documents€filed€in€the€case),€along€with€written€briefsŠ Ą  Špresenting€the€arguments€for€both€sides.€They€do€not€use€jurors,€witnesses,€or€court€reporters,€andŠ ¬ü  Šthe€parties€are€usually€not€present.€The€judges€may€hear€oral€argument€by€lawyers€in€a€formalŠ ˜č  Šcourtroom€session,€but€many€cases€are€decided€on€the€basis€of€the€briefs€and€the€record€alone,Š „Ō  Šwithout€oral€argument.€If€oral€argument€is€permitted,€the€lawyers€are€given€a€limited€amount€ofŠ pĄ Štime€to€explain€the€case€to€the€judges.€The€judges€frequently€ask€them€questions€about€their€case.Š \¬ ŠĢAppellate€opinions€-€The€judges€on€the€panel€discuss€the€case€in€private,€consider€any€relevantŠ 4„ Šprior€casesŠ  p Š(š šprecedentsšš),€and€reach€a€decision.€At€least€two€of€the€three€judges€must€agree€on€the€outcome.Š  \ ŠOne€judge€is€chosen€to€write€an€opinion,€which€explains€the€decision.€A€judge€who€disagreesŠ ųH Šwith€the€majority€opinion€may€file€a€dissent,€giving€the€reasons€for€the€disagreement.€ManyŠ ä4 Šappellate€opinions€are€published€in€books€called€Š Š  Šš šreportersšš,€which€are€read€by€other€judges€and€by€lawyers€looking€for€precedents€to€guide€themŠ ¼  Šin€their€own€cases.€The€accumulated€judicial€opinions€make€up€case€law,€which€is€usually€anŠ Øų Šaccurate€predictor€of€how€future€cases€will€be€decided.Š ”ä ŠĢSupreme€Court€review€-€A€party€who€is€not€satisfied€with€the€decision€of€the€court€of€appealsŠ l¼ Šmay€petition€the€Supreme€Court€to€accept€the€case€for€review.€Like€judges€on€the€courts€ofŠ X Ø Šappeals,€the€nine€justices€on€the€Supreme€Court€hear€oral€arguments,€deliberate,€render€theirŠ D!” Šdecisions,€and€write€opinions€on€cases€they€decide€to€review.€Unlike€the€courts€of€appeals,Š 0"€  Šhowever,€the€Supreme€Court€is€not€required€to€hear€each€case€presented€to€it.€It€is€a€different€kindŠ #l! Šof€appeals€court€-€its€major€function€is€not€correcting€errors€made€by€trial€judges,€but€clarifyingŠ $X" Šthe€law€when€other€courts€disagree€about€the€interpretation€of€the€Constitution€or€federal€law.Š ō$D # ŠEach€year€the€Supreme€Court€reviews€only€about€100€of€some€7,000€cases€that€losing€parties€askŠ ą%0!$ Šit€to€review.€The€Courtššs€decisions€in€these€cases€set€precedents€for€the€interpretation€of€theŠ Ģ&"% ŠConstitution€and€federal€law€that€all€other€federal€and€state€courts€must€follow.Š ø'#& ŠReturnŠ ¤(ō#' ŠĢFor€additional€information,€you€may€wish€to€visit€the€Federal€Judicial€Centerššs€web€page:€š šInsideŠ |*Ģ%) Šthe€Federal€Courtsšš,€which€was€designed€to€help€students,€the€media,€and€the€public€learn€moreŠ h+ø&* Šabout€the€federal€courts.Š T,¤'+ Š€€Š @-(, Š€€€€€Š ° Š€TelephoneŠ œģ Š€€Š ˆŲ Ѐ̀E-MailŠ `° Ѐ̀̀€Š $ t Š€€Š  ` Š€€€€Š ü L  Š€Home€€€About€the€Court€€€Attorney€Info€€€Clerkššs€Office€€€Ō_ŌECFŌ_Ō€€€Judges€€€Juror€Info€€€On-LineŠ č 8  ŠForms€€€U.S.€Pretrial€€€U.S.€Probation€€€Links€€€HelpŠ Ō$  Ѐ̀̀€Š ˜č  Š€€Š „Ō  Š