The United States has a separate court system from the states, whose organization and jurisdiction are derived from the Constitution and federal laws.
Judicial Review
the power given to the Supreme Courts of the US and Virginia to interpret the constitutionality of laws and acts of the executive branch
Judicial review was established at the national level with the Supreme Court case of Marbury vs. Madison
Virginia has its own court system whose organization and jurisdiction comes from Virginia’s Constitution and statelaws
Magistrates issue search warrants, subpoenas, arrest warrants, and set bail in the Virginia Court System
United States Court System (in order)
US DistrictCourt
Run by judge and jury
Jurisdiction: original (all cases start here)
US Court of Appeals
Run by justices and no jury (3-paneljudges)
Jurisdiction: appellate only
US Supreme Court
Run by justices and no jury
Jurisdiction: appellate and limitedoriginal
Virginia Courts System
General District Court
Run by: Judge
Jurisdiction: original jurisdiction of misdemeanors and civil cases with low money
or
Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court
Run by: judge/no jury
Jurisdiction: original over juvenile and family cases
Circuit Court
Run by: judge and jury
Original jurisdiction for felonies and civil cases with high money; Appellate from district courts
Court of Appeals of Virginia
Run by: judge/no jury
Jurisdiction: Appellate jurisdiction
Virginia Supreme Court
Run by: justices/no jury
Jurisdiction: Appellate and limited originaljurisdiction
US Court System (most powerful to less powerful): Supreme Court, Federal Courts, State Courts, Courts of Appeals, District Courts
Virginia Court System (most to least powerful): Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, Circuit Courts, District Courts/Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court
A mnemonic to remember the federal court: if you commit a federal crime, you will be SAD (Supreme, Appeals, District)
You need a valid reason to appeal
A plaintiff is the party who sues in a civil case, while the prosecutor is the party who sues in a criminal case