1. Federal Court System
1.1. Federal Government is party to dispute
1.2. Must have jurisdiction in civil cases with two parties in different states
1.3. Either civil or Criminal cases involving federal questions
2. State Court System(51) (General Jurisdiction)
2.1. Either Civil or Criminal cases involving federal questions
3. Federal District Courts(94)(Limited Jurisdiction)
3.1. Majority of cases end here, either by settlement, or by party's lack of decision to appeal
4. Federal Appellate Court (13) (Nationwide Jurisdiction)
4.1. Focus is placed on how the issue came up, and if the argument holds in a court of law
4.2. Case can be...
4.2.1. ...Affirmed, affirming the decison of the district court
4.2.2. ...Reversed, overturning the decision of the district court
4.2.3. ...Remanded, sending it back to the lower court for reconsideration
4.2.4. *Some combination of the above*
5. Federal Supreme Court (1) (Appellate Jurisdiction)
5.1. Refuse to hear the case (most common outcome)
5.2. Stare Decesis made be made based on precedent. If a similar or identical case has been ruled before the current one, the court may choose to go by that ruling.
5.3. "Rule of four," at least four justices must agree to hear a case
5.3.1. if said case presents a federal question
5.3.2. if said case would fix different interpretations of a law, or discrepancies in other rulings
5.3.3. preferences of justices may come into play
5.3.4. parties to the case file briefs, and non-affiliated parties file amicus curiae briefs (Essentially saying that they are interested in the case)
6. If accepted...
6.1. Court issues a **writ of certiorari** (A request by the Supreme Court for a lower court to send up case records)
6.1.1. Oral arguments made by both sides
7. The Final Decision (Judicial Decision)
7.1. Court issues their ruling
7.1.1. The majority opinion is made, if their is no majority, a plurality opinion is written
7.1.1.1. Concurring opinions may be written by justices agreeing with majority to share reasoning for the way the vote went. On the opposite side you have judges who disagree with the majority that will write dissenting opinions