CJ 110 Lecture Notes - Lecture 4: Loretta Lynch, General Jurisdiction, General Counsel
writ of certiorari
Chapters 8
➢ Origin of American courts
o Constitutional Convention of 1787 – created two legal systems in America (State
and Federal)
➢ State courts
o Courts of limited jurisdiction = “workhorses of state judiciary”; minor criminal
cases
o Courts of general jurisdiction = major trial courts at state level
o Appellate courts
▪ Intermediate appellate courts
▪ State supreme courts
➢ Federal courts= 1. Apply/enforce all federal laws, 2. Ultimate interpretation of the
Constitution
o Federal magistrates= lowest level or federal judiciary
o U.S. District Courts = major trial courts at the federal level
o Appellate courts
▪ U.S. Circuit Courts of Appeals
▪ U.S. Supreme Court= ultimate authority in interpreting constitution
➢ Interaction between state and federal courts
o Writ of certiorari= document issued by higher court directing lower court to
prepare record of case and send for review
o Writ of habeas corpus= writ requesting a person or institution detaining a prisoner
bring them before judicial officer
State Supreme Court U.S. Supreme Court
Intermediate Appellate Court U.S. Circuit Courts of Appeal
Courts of General Jurisdiction U.S. District Courts
Courts of Limited Jurisdiction Federal Magistrate
State Federal
Chapter 9
➢ Prosecutors= attorney and government official who represents the people of a particular
jurisdiction against person accused of committing crime
o Roles and duties=
▪ Screen cases, present facts, coordinate investigation (present at scene),
respond to motions by defense, jury selection
o Federal prosecutors
▪ U.S. Attorney General = government official who prosecutes at federal
level; highest ranking in U.S. department of justice; currently Loretta
Lynch
▪ 1st Deputy Attorney General
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Document Summary
Origin of american courts: constitutional convention of 1787 created two legal systems in america (state and federal) State courts: courts of limited jurisdiction = workhorses of state judiciary ; minor criminal cases, courts of general jurisdiction = major trial courts at state level, appellate courts. Constitution: federal magistrates= lowest level or federal judiciary, u. s. district courts = major trial courts at the federal level, appellate courts, u. s. Circuit courts of appeals: u. s. supreme court= ultimate authority in interpreting constitution. Attorneys: state prosecutors, state attorney general = chief legal officer of state; pa bruce beamer, 1st deputy attorney general, senior deputy attorney generals, deputy attorney generals. County prosecutors: county district attorney = lackawanna county shane scanlon, 1st assistant district attorney, deputy district attorneys, assistant district attorneys, factors impacting decision to prosecute, 1. Harm done to victim/property: discretion= up to prosecutor to decide to take the case or not.