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6.3 %u2022 Organization of the Federal Judiciary 199FIGURE 6.4How Cases Move through the Court System5 THE CASE AT THE SUPREME COURTIf accepted%u2026Court issueswrit of certiorari. Oral arguments presentedby each side.2 DISTRICT COURT LEVELFEDERALDISTRICTCOURTSfind facts,deliver opinions Most cases end here either bya settlement or by the losing party%u2019sdecision not to appeal.1 WHERE CASES BEGINFEDERALCOURT SYSTEM STATECOURT SYSTEM Federal government is party to dispute.Either civil or criminal cases involving federal questions Must possess original jurisdiction in civil cases withtwo parties from different states (with the conditionthat more than $75,000 is in question) 4 APPEALING TO THE SUPREME COURTUpon appeal,SUPREMECOURT may%u2026refuse to hear the case(most common outcome) decide to hear the caserelying on the %u201crule of four%u201d:four or more justices mustagree to hear a specific caseparties to the case file briefs and interested non-parties may fileamicus curiae briefspreferences of individual justices may play a role if case presents a federal question if case would resolve conflicting interpretations ofa law or discrepancies in previous rulings 6 THE DECISIONJudicalconferencewherein justicesmeet and votein secret Court issues itsruling and opinion.The majority decision is binding.If no majority (when many justices disagree onlogic of ruling), a plurality opinion is written. Concurring opinionmay be written by justicesagreeing with majority toshare reasoning for vote.Dissenting opinionsare written by justices whodisagree with the majorityand who are trying toinfluence later Courts toreverse the current ruling.3 COURT OF APPEALS LEVELLitigantsmay move toAPPELLATECOURTS Focus is on how the decision of the districtcourt was rendered and if that decision wasappropriate in the context of the law. ...affirmed, confirming thedistrict court decision ...reversed, overturning thedistrict court decision ...remanded, sent back to thelower court for reconsideration some combination of the aboveCase can be%u2026 Losing side mayappeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.%u00a9 Bedford, Freeman & Worth Publishers. For review purposes only. Do not distribute.