Why is the legal concept of jurisdiction important for the operation of American courts?

Jurisdiction & the Courts

This week we learned about the courts, their operations and the different parties in litigation. Please answer the following questions in your discussion post:

1. Why is the legal concept of jurisdiction important for the operation of American courts?

2. What is judicial self-restraint?

3. Who are the participants in criminal and civil cases, and what roles do they play in the dispute resolution process?

Discussions for Weeks 1 through 3 will be graded after Week 3. This grading rubric applies to all of your discussions for Weeks 1 through 3.

JURISDICTION AND POLICY MAKING OF STATE COURTS

The jurisdictions of the 50 separate state court systems in the United States are established in virtually the same manner as those within the national court system. Each state has a constitution that sets forth the authority and decision-making much legislation “Regulations” setting forth the determining which cases may appear before the nation’s most august judicial body. Appeals may reach the Supreme Court through two main avenues. First, there may be appeals from all lower federal constitutional and territorial courts and also from most, but not all, federal legislative courts. Second, the Supreme Court may hear appeals from the highest court in a state – as long as there is a substantial federal question. powers of its trial and appellate Most of the High Court’s docket judges. Likewise, each state legislature passes laws that further detail the specific powers and prerogatives of judges and the rights and obligations of those consists of cases in which it has agreed to issue a writ of certiorari a discre who bring suit in the state courts. Because no two state constitutions or legislative bodies are alike, the jurisdictions of individual state courts vary from one state to another.