Question 1

The ________ hears cases brought against the United States.

Accepted Answer

The U.S. Court of Federal Claims specifically hears cases brought against the United States, such as claims for monetary damages, tax refunds, or contract disputes. The other options listed may also hear cases involving the United States, but they are not specialized in hearing cases solely brought against the government.

Question 2

The ________ has special appellate jurisdiction to review the decisions of the Court of Federal Claims,the Patent and Trademark Office,and the Court of International Trade.

Accepted Answer

The Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit has special appellate jurisdiction to review the decisions of the Court of Federal Claims, the Patent and Trademark Office, and the Court of International Trade. The other options do not have this specific jurisdiction.

Question 3

The parties must appear individually and cannot have lawyers represent them for lawsuits filed in the ________.

Accepted Answer

Small claims courts are designed to handle minor disputes without the need for formal legal representation, so parties are not allowed to have lawyers represent them. In contrast, U.S. district courts, intermediate appellate courts, and special federal courts typically involve more significant legal matters and allow parties to have lawyers represent them.

Question 4

Which of the following courts are the federal court system's trial courts of general jurisdiction?

Accepted Answer

U.S. district courts are the federal court system's trial courts of general jurisdiction.

Question 5

________ are courts that hear cases of a general nature that are not within the jurisdiction of limited-jurisdiction trial courts.

Accepted Answer

Courts of record are courts that have the authority to hear a variety of cases that are not specifically designated for limited-jurisdiction courts. They typically handle more serious criminal and civil cases, keeping a complete record of the proceedings.

Question 6

Most federal circuits of the federal appellate court system are determined based on ________.

Accepted Answer

The geographical area served by each court is typically the primary factor determining which federal circuit a case is assigned to. There are currently 13 federal circuits, each covering a different region of the United States.

Question 7

________ are courts that hear matters of a specialized or limited nature.

Accepted Answer

The answer of ________ are courts that hear matters of...

Question 8

Which of the following is a function of the state supreme courts?

Accepted Answer

State supreme courts serve as the highest appellate courts within their respective states. They hear appeals from intermediate appellate state courts and certain trial courts, and their decisions can be the final say on a case.

Question 9

Which of the following statements is true about federal appellate court proceedings?

Accepted Answer

Federal appellate court proceedings are usually heard by a three-judge panel rather than by all the judges of the court.

Option A is incorrect because appeals can come from not only a U.S. district court but also other entities, including administrative agencies and bankruptcy courts.

Option B is incorrect because appeals can come from state and federal courts, but not necessarily only from state supreme courts.

Option D is incorrect because new evidence cannot be introduced in federal appellate court proceedings. The court only considers arguments based on the record from the original trial.

Question 10

Judges for federal courts are selected ________.

Accepted Answer

Federal judges are selected by the president and then subject to confirmation by the Senate, as stated in Article II of the Constitution. This process ensures that judges are appointed based on their qualifications and without political influence or bias. The other options (A, C, and D) are not accurate methods for selecting federal judges.

Question 11

The ________ established by Congress have limited jurisdiction.

Accepted Answer

Special federal courts are established by Congress with limited jurisdiction, typically for specific purposes such as hearing appeals from government agencies. State supreme courts and appeals courts have broader jurisdiction within their respective states, and courts of records is not a commonly used term in describing types of courts.

Question 12

Which of the following courts are considered as the federal court system's intermediate appellate courts?

Accepted Answer

The U.S. courts of appeals are considered as the federal court system's intermediate appellate courts, as they hear appeals from district courts and certain specialized courts. The U.S. Courts of Appeals for Veterans Claims and the U.S. Courts of Federal Claims are specialized courts, and the U.S. District Courts are trial courts.

Question 13

The United States Congress created the 13th court of appeals called the Court of Appeals for ________.

Accepted Answer

The United States Congress created the 13th court of appeals known as the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit to handle specialized cases, such as those related to patent law and cases appealed from the Court of Federal Claims.

Question 14

In an appellate court,after a decision is rendered by the judges' panel,a petitioner can request a(n)________ review by the full appeals court.

Accepted Answer

En banc review is a request for a full court review of a decision rendered by a panel of judges in an appellate court. This means that all the judges in that court will hear the case and render a decision. Option B (in rem) and option C (in personam) are not relevant to the context of appellate court review, while option D (quasi in rem) is a type of jurisdiction in civil cases and is not related to appellate review.

Question 15

The geographical area served by each U.S.court of appeals is referred to as a ________.

Accepted Answer

The term used to describe the geographical area served by each U.S. court of appeals is a "circuit." Each court of appeals is assigned to a specific numbered circuit, and there are 13 circuits in total. Therefore, the correct answer is D, circuit.

Question 16

A(n)________ hears appeals from trial courts.

Accepted Answer

Intermediate appellate courts hear appeals from trial courts and are considered the "middle court." They review decisions made by trial courts to ensure that the law was applied correctly and fairly. The other options listed, small claims court, court of record, and inferior trial court, are not appellate courts and do not hear appeals from other courts.

Question 17

Which of the following is a special federal court established by the United States Congress?

Accepted Answer

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces is a special federal court established by Congress, with jurisdiction over appeals from courts-martial in the armed forces. The other options listed are not actual federal courts established by Congress.

Question 18

Decisions of the ________ are final unless a question of law is involved that is appealable to the U.S.Supreme Court.

Accepted Answer

Decisions of the highest state courts are final unless they involve a question of law that can be appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court. This is because the U.S. Supreme Court has the ultimate authority in interpreting the Constitution and federal law, which includes reviewing decisions made by the highest courts of the states if those decisions involve substantial questions of federal law or constitutional issues.

Question 19

Why was the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit created?

Accepted Answer

The Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit was created to provide uniformity in the application of federal law in certain areas, particularly patent law. It was created in 1982 to bring consistency to decisions made on patent cases and other federal law that impacts the national economy. Its jurisdiction includes cases involving patents, trademarks, certain international trade, and government claims, among others.

Question 20

Which of the following statements is true about intermediate appellate courts?

Accepted Answer

Intermediate appellate courts review either pertinent parts or the whole trial court record from the lower court. They do not hear new evidence or grant oral hearings to the parties. While they may have jurisdiction over certain types of cases, such as civil or criminal appeals, they generally do not specialize in any particular area of law.

Quiz 3: Courts and Jurisdiction