The Supreme Court goes through around 7,000 cases each year at which they choose about 100 to 150 of, but there are other steps you have to go through before you can appeal to the Supreme Court. The first court system and the most basic is the District Court. District Courts deals with both criminal civil matters, this is the court that most people are issued jury duty to. The next court system after the District Court is the Circuit Court. The Circuit Court deals with more important civil and criminal matters, on top of that this court system also deals with juvenile and other family law cases such as divorce, custody and child support. There are 13 circuit courts and in the number of judges can vary from 13 being the lowest and 26 being the highest. If your case loses in the circuit court you then can try and be appealed to the Supreme Court. This is the highest and final level of court systems if your case loses in the Supreme Court you are all done and that verdict is final. The Supreme Court is in Washington D.C and has 9 judges that have precedence over all the other court systems in the nation. That is the different systems of courts.
Recently in the sixth Circuit Court, which deals with cases out of the states in Michigan Ohio Kentucky Tennessee, ruled against gay marriage rights which has been the first loss the gay right movement has suffered since it has recently picked up a lot of recognition. Most all same sex marriage cases have been won after the Supreme Court in June of 2013 ruled against the federal Defense of Marriage Act. This is why this particular case has caught so much attention.
Circuit Judge Jeffrey Sutton was saying that their hands are tied usually when it comes to cases concerning same sex marriage because of a statement made by the supreme court, "upheld the right of the people of a state to define marriage as they see it." That makes it hard for a judge to vote against gay marriage, but the sixth circuit stood up and said no and I hope that trends and sets an example for other court systems whether they are district, circuit, or supreme.
Taylor, this is really good, i wish you would have written it on time. your understanding of the court system is excellent. you need a little more insight on Judge Sutton's decision but apart from that this is on target.
ReplyDeleteThis was a good blog, but the section on Sutton felt way too rushed to make any true impact of how you feel on the situation. The situation itself made an impact, but you don't appear to view it as such. You did provide an excellent outline of describing the governmental system and on Sutton's statement (which needed expanding). I'd call this a start to "spectaculardom."
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