Equal Justice Under the Law

POLS 205
American National Government
Unit 3, Lecture 1:
Equal Justice Under the Law
Three Types of Law:
Constitutional
The Framework
Statutory
(and Delegated Rulemaking Authority)
Judicial
COMMON LAW - That which derives its force and authority from the universal consent and
immemorial practice of the people. The system of jurisprudence that originated in England and
which was latter adopted in the U.S. that is based on precedent instead of statutory laws.
Case Law/Precedent - Law established by subject matter heard in earlier cases. Binding on lower
courts within the jurisdiction.
Article III of the US Constitution
Section. 1.
The judicial Power of the United States shall be vested in one supreme Court, and in such inferior Courts
as the Congress may from time to time ordain and establish. The Judges, both of the supreme and
inferior Courts, shall hold their Offices during good Behaviour, and shall, at stated Times, receive for their
Services a Compensation, which shall not be diminished during their Continuance in Office.
Section. 2.
The judicial Power shall extend to all Cases, in Law and Equity, arising under this Constitution, the Laws
of the United States, and Treaties made, or which shall be made, under their Authority;--to all Cases
affecting Ambassadors, other public Ministers and Consuls;--to all Cases of admiralty and maritime
Jurisdiction;--to Controversies to which the United States shall be a Party;--to Controversies between
two or more States;-- between a State and Citizens of another State;--between Citizens of different
States;--between Citizens of the same State claiming Lands under Grants of different States, and
between a State, or the Citizens thereof, and foreign States, Citizens or Subjects.
In all Cases affecting Ambassadors, other public Ministers and Consuls, and those in which a State shall
be Party, the supreme Court shall have original Jurisdiction. In all the other Cases before mentioned, the
supreme Court shall have appellate Jurisdiction, both as to Law and Fact, with such Exceptions, and
under such Regulations as the Congress shall make.
The Trial of all Crimes, except in Cases of Impeachment, shall be by Jury; and such Trial shall be held in
the State where the said Crimes shall have been committed; but when not committed within any State,
the Trial shall be at such Place or Places as the Congress may by Law have directed.
Section. 3.
Treason against the United States, shall consist only in levying War against them, or in adhering to their
Enemies, giving them Aid and Comfort. No Person shall be convicted of Treason unless on the Testimony
of two Witnesses to the same overt Act, or on Confession in open Court.
The Congress shall have Power to declare the Punishment of Treason, but no Attainder of Treason shall
work Corruption of Blood, or Forfeiture except during the Life of the Person attainted.
The Supremacy Clause (Article VI)
This Constitution, and the Laws of the United States which shall be made in Pursuance thereof… shall be
the supreme Law of the Land.
Only those laws made in pursuance of the constitution
AMENDMENT XI
Passed by Congress March 4, 1794. Ratified February 7, 1795.
The Judicial power of the United States shall not be construed to extend to any suit in law or equity,
commenced or prosecuted against one of the United States by Citizens of another State, or by Citizens or
Subjects of any Foreign State.
(States can’t be sued in Federal Court by citizens or by foreign countries)
Passed partly in response to Chisholm v. Georgia
Statutory Law
The Judiciary Act of 1789
Current Statute: Title 28 of the US Code
http://assembler.law.cornell.edu/uscode/html/uscode28/usc_sup_01_28.html
Supreme Court Rules http://www.supremecourtus.gov/ctrules/ctrules.html
Precedent
The judicial practice by which the courts generally follow previous decisions involving the same issue.
(Wasserman)
A judicial ruling that permits the court ruling settling an old case to govern the rule used to settle a
similar new one (G.Q. Wilson)
Stare Decisis – to stand on decided cases; the judicial policy of following precedents established by past
decisions. (Schmidt)
Marbury v Madison (1803)
"It is emphatically the province and duty of the judicial department to say what the law is. Those who
apply the rule to particular cases, must of necessity expound and interpret that rule. If two laws conflict
with each other, the courts must decide on the operation of each."
— Chief Justice John Marshall
The Birthright of Judicial Review
The irony:
The landmark case for judicial review is based on a finding that the Supreme Court did not
CONSTITUTIONALLY possess a particular power
(give a little, get a lot!)
The Supreme Court has the power to decide what the constitution means.
McCullough v Maryland (1819)
The Second National Bank and the state of Maryland
Two elements:
The Supremacy Clause
Article 6, Clause 2
(Judicial Review of STATE activities)
The “Necessary and Proper” clause
Article 1, Section 8, Clause 18
(A handy-dandy expansion of federal powers)
And in Summation…
The Judicial branch, like the Executive and the Legislative, is authorized and empowered by
Constitutional Provisions:
Article III of the US Constitution
Statutory Law:
US Code Title 28
Case Law and Precedent:
Marbury v. Madison, McCulloch v. Maryland, etc. (And I DO mean etc.)
State v Federal
96 million filings in state courts annually
99% of all litigation in the US
2/3 are traffic cases
The remaining third is split between criminal and civil cases
Which is Which?
Criminal Case:
The State v The Accused
California v OJ Simpson
Florida v Joe Francis
Crime against society or individual
Penalty – Jail or Fines
Civil Case
Plaintiff vs. Respondent
Brown (family of Nicole Brown) vs. Simpson
Seeking equity or judicial relief or enforcing contracts
Settlements or civil penalties
Now Let’s Go….
Federal District Courts
http://pacer.psc.uscourts.gov/map.html
Ninety Four Federal District Courts
United States Courts of Appeals
Supreme Court
Relative Caseloads
649 District Court Judges dispose of approximately 260,000 cases annually
179 Court of Appeals Judges dispose of 55,000 approximately cases annually
9 Supreme Court Justices hear less than 100 cases each Session
Judicial Terminology
Jurisdiction – the authority of a court to hear and decide a case
Geographic
What Courts of Appeals is your District Court within?
Subject matter
Criminal or Civil?
Writ of Certiorari
An order for a lower court to send up the records of a case for review
It means, in Mom speak, “We’ll see”
Rule of 4: Four justices must approve for a writ to be issued
(95% of requests are rejected)
Standing
You must have a sufficient stake in the matter to justify bringing suit
The party bringing the suit must have suffered harm or threat of harm
Must be “justiciable”, not hypothetical or academic
Thank You, Dr. Jack Shock
(To the tune of Jesus Loves Me)
Breyer
Ginsburg
Kennedy
Alito
Roberts; he’s the chief
Scalia
Sotomayor, too
Kagan
Thomas, that’s our crew!
Supreme Court Justices, Supreme Court Justices, Supreme Court Justices, they wear black robes for YOU!