Assignment:
Prior to beginning work on this discussion, please complete the assigned readings of the Wright (2012) text, and review the website, About Federal Courts. Be sure to support your descriptions with references to Wright's text and/or scholarly sources.
The judiciary is an important part of the criminal justice system. After police arrest an individual, an extensive chain of events is set off in the American court system. As noted, Section 6.2 of the Wright (2012) text indicates that there are 51 separate court systems in the United States. The federal government operates one court system, referred to as the federal court system. Each of the 50 states operates a court system, referred to as state court systems. Both the federal courts and the state courts have three main levels: trial courts, appeals courts, and supreme courts. Note that Wright (2012) also includes a discussion of the term jurisdiction.
Your instructor will assign you a section for this discussion. Respond to the prompts within your assigned group. For the fourth part (in each group) consider how knowledge of cultural sensitivity and diversity awareness could apply to positively influence a process or responsibility. Based on your assigned section, address the following:
Section 1: State and Federal Trial Courts
- Describe processes for preliminary hearings and for the grand jury.
- Describe the main responsibilities of state trial courts and federal trial courts.
- Interpret how at least one constitutional principle relevant to social and criminal justice relates to one of the above processes or responsibilities.
- Apply knowledge of cultural sensitivity and diversity awareness to at least one of the above processes or responsibilities.
Section 2: State and Federal Appeals Courts
- Describe processes for arraignment and for plea bargaining.
- Describe the main responsibilities of state appeals courts and federal appeals courts.
- Interpret how at least one constitutional principle relevant to social and criminal justice relates to one of the above processes or responsibilities.
- Apply knowledge of cultural sensitivity and diversity awareness to at least one of the above processes or responsibilities.
Section 3: State Supreme Courts and the United States Supreme Court.
- Describe processes for jury selection and for the jury.
- Describe the main responsibilities of state supreme courts and the United States Supreme Court.
- Interpret how at least one constitutional principle relevant to social and criminal justice relates to one of the above processes or responsibilities.
- Apply knowledge of cultural sensitivity and diversity awareness to at least one of the above processes or responsibilities.
All Students
Briefly define the term jurisdiction as it relates to courts.