Wk1 1 u.s. legal system
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Transcript of Wk1 1 u.s. legal system
I. MANAGERIAL APPROACH
II. AMERICAN LEGAL SYSTEM I
III. WRAP-UP
CHECKS & BALANCES: 3 BRANCHES
Executive branch
Legislative branch
Judicial branch
CHECKS & BALANCES: 3 BRANCHES Executive branch:
Who: President and governors What: Enforce laws; request legislation
Legislative branch: Who: Congress and state legislatures What: Enact new laws and amend
existing ones
CHECKS & BALANCES: 3 BRANCHES
Judicial branch:
Who: Federal and state courts What: Interpret laws
CHECKS & BALANCES
LAW MAKING & INTERPRETATION: EXAMPLE #1
Congress: Enact “National Labor Relations Act”
Admin. agency (NLRB): Promulgate Agency regulations according to the Act
Federal & state courts: Case law (decisions)
CHECKS & BALANCES
PROCESS OF MAKING & INTERPRETING LAW: EXAMPLE #2
Congress: Enact “Americans with Disabilities Act”
Admin. agency (EEOC): Promulgate agency regulation
Federal & state Courts: Case law (decisions)
U.S. COURT SYSTEM (DUAL)
State courts: Trial court, appellate court, highest state court (mostly “Supreme Court”)
Federal courts: Trial court (Federal District Court), appellate court (Federal Circuit Court of Appeals), highest court (U.S. Supreme Court)
U.S. COURT SYSTEM
EXAMPLE #1: STATE COURT SYSTEM (CT)
Trial: Superior Court Appellate: Court of Appeals Highest: Supreme Court
U.S. COURT SYSTEM
EXAMPLE #2: STATE COURT SYSTEM (OH)
Trial: Court of Claims & Common Pleas Appellate: Courts of Appeals Highest: Supreme Court of Ohio
U.S. COURT SYSTEM
EXAMPLE #3: 6th Circuit
Trial: Federal District Court of Northern Ohio
Appellate: Courts of Appeals (Cincinnati) Highest: U.S. Supreme Court
WHAT TRIAL COURTS DO
Early decision before discovery or full trial Summary judgment Preliminary injunction
Find facts (evidence) of case
WHAT APPELLATE COURTS DO
Affirm: Uphold decision of lower court
Reverse: Losing party becomes winner
Remand: Send the case back to the lower court with instructions how they must reexamine it
WHAT THE HIGHEST COURT DO
Discretionary jurisdiction Can choose cases to hear Certiorari: Determines whether the Supreme Court
reviews a case
Decides legal error only (not factual issues)
Court of last resort: U.S. Supreme Court Case of big implications only State Supreme court cases can go to the U.S.
Supreme Court
TYPE OF CASE: CRIMINAL CASE
Prosecute suspects charged with a crime against people (= the state)
Right to jury trial (always)
Must prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt
TYPES OF CASE: CIVIL CASE
Cases of a noncriminal nature (e.g., contract dispute, employment discrimination, torts)
May proceed with a jury, or without a jury
Must prove the case by a preponderance of evidence (= likely than not)
JURISDICTION
A court’s power to hear & enforce the case
Why limiting jurisdiction Due Process (U.S. Constitution, “fundamental fairness”)
JURISDICTION: TWO TYPES
Personal jurisdiction: The person must have enough relationship with the state where the court sits (“minimum contact”)
Subject matter jurisdiction: The kind of case that can be heard by the court
FEDERAL COURT’S JURISDICTION
1st type: Federal law cases
2nd type: A dispute between parties from different state with amount of controversy over $75K (“diversity jurisdiction”)
STATE COURT’S JURISDICTION
May hear both federal & state law claims
Defendant in a civil action may move the case to federal court of the region
ANATOMY OF COURT PROCEEDINGS: HOW A TRIAL ENDS
Early dismissal
Summary judgment Dismissed for failure to state a
claim
ANATOMY OF COURT PROCEEDINGS: HOW A TRIAL ENDS
Settlement Out of court settlement between parties Settlement upon court’s approval
Full trial on merits of the case
LEGAL ANALYSIS: CONSTITUTION
Only court can interpret Constitution
Court may strike down a statute or agency regulation if unconstitutional
LEGAL ANALYSIS: STATUTE
Canon 1: “Any ambiguity? If not, end of story”
Canon 2: “If ambiguous, does the interpretation of statute give effect to the legislative intent?”
LEGAL ANALYSIS: INTERPRETATION OF STATUTE
Problems
Two canons may be conflicting each other
Legislative intent might not be clearly given
LEGAL ANALYSIS: AGENCY REGULATION
Great deference to agency’s interpretation
“Whether the agency's [regulation] is based on a permissible construction of the statute [to give effect to the legislative intent.]” Chevron v. NRD. 467 U.S. 837 (1984)
LEGAL ANALYSIS: COMMON LAW
Common law: case law made by judges over time
Stare decisis: You must follow if precedent binds
Binding precedents: Higher court decision within controlling jurisdiction
Persuasive precedent: Decision made in other jurisdictions; not binding
LEGAL ANALYSIS: COMMON LAW
How to use a case in favor of you
If it supports: Analogize the case If not: Distinguish the case
AMERICAN LEGAL SYSTEM
Each of three branches have unique function in the law making system (all three make some law)
Federal & state system (trial + appellate + highest)
Criminal & civil cases have different standards
AMERICAN LEGAL SYSTEM
Jurisdiction: A court’s power to hear cases
Anatomy of court proceedings: Complaint answer discovery settle or trial
Legal analysis: How to interpret U.S. Constitution, statute, agency regulation, case law