Question

in 200 words, Describe state court systems. Describe the federal court system. Give an example of each

Answer 1

State court systems are courts of “General jurisdictions”. The state courts will hear cases which are not specifically chosen for the federal courts. State courts interpret the state laws. Each state gets to make their own law and interpret it. This ensures the federal government does not become too strong. The state also retain their autonomy. Around 90% of the American court decisions are taken at the state level. Some examples of decision taken at the state level are as follows:

• A criminal case violating state laws like robbery, assault, murder, drug-related case
• A controversy vis-a-vis the state constitution
• A state tax violation case
• Real estate cases
• Family cases, divorce cases
• Traffic related cases and juveniles cases.

Federal Court system hear cases only under special circumstances. They have limited jurisdiction. The federal court hear two type of cases “federal questions” and “those related to diversity of citizenship”. The federal court has district court, court of appeals mad the supreme court.

Some examples of federal questions are as follows:

• A crime which is violation of the federal law.
• Civil cases related to federal laws like employee discrimination
• Cases involving interstate criminal activity
• Cases related to interstate disputes
• Cases related to foreign business or international threats.
• Violation of the bill of rights
• All cases related to bankruptcy, copyright, patent laws etc

Examples of “diversity of citizen ship” cases are as follows:

• Cases related to disputes among citizens of different states
• Disputes between a US national and a national of another country
• In each case the damages involved should $ 75,000 and above other the case will be tried at the state court.