US Judicial System

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Judicial branch

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The system of federal, state, and local courts, with the US Supreme Court as the highest court in the land.

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Supreme Court

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The highest court in the United States.

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original jurisdiction

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the right to hear and decide on a case for the first time

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appellate jurisdiction

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the power to review and change decisions made by lower courts

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justice

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title given to a person who administers the law, such as a judge on the US Supreme Court

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dissenting opinion

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written brief issued by a judge or judges who disagree with the majority opinion

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appeal

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to ask a higher court to review a lower court’s ruling

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judicial review

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the doctrine in American government that states actions of the legislative and executive branches are subject to review by the judicial branch, and that some laws may be deemed as unconstitutional (especially by the US Supreme Court) and struck down

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rule of law

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political idea that a nation and its government should adhere to the law(s) of the land

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landmark case

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a legal dispute that, through its ruling, is considered historically significant