Areshia Streams
JUS - 261 - J1122
Southern New Hampshire University
September 15, 2021
2-2 Short Paper: State and Federal Judges
The U.S. Constitution creates a federal system of government that is shared between
federal and state governments. The federal court system was granted judicial power of the United
States through Article III of the Constitution. Section one of Article III specifically establishes
the U.S. Supreme Court and grants Congress authority over the creation of lower federal courts
Whereas, the state court system is established by both the Constitution and the laws of each state
The Supreme Court of the state is usually known as the last resort court and is the highest court
of all the courts. Some states court system may also have intermediate court of appeals and trial
courts which is often referred to as circuit or district courts. Judges of the federal court system
are nominated by the POTUS and confirmed by the Senate. Once they are elected, he/she hold
the position for good behavior and a life term. He/she can be removed from office due to
misbehavior through a Congressional Impeachment proceeding
Judges of the state court system can be selected through a variety of ways such as
election, appointment for either a number of years or for life, and a combination of both
methods, ergo, being appointed followed by an election. The federal court system hears a variety
of cases. Such as those dealing with the constitutionality of the law, involving the laws and
treaties of the United States, and cases involving ambassadors and public ministers. They also
hear cases such as disputes between two or more states, admiralty law, bankruptcy, and habeas
corpus cases. In a state court, judges would hear cases such as probate which involves wills and
estates, and most criminal cases, as well as contract cases, tort cases such as personal injury.
family law such as marriages, divorces, adoption, and so on. In the end, the state court are the
final arbiters of the state laws and constitutions, however, their interpretation of the U.S
Constitution can be appealed by the U.S. Supreme Court. And the supreme court can choose
whether or not to hear the case. I believe that both the state and federal judges have a hard job.
They both work hard to achieve their desired job and have to work equally harder to keep their
job.
References:
Carp, R. A., Manning, K. L., Holmes, L. M., & Stidham, R. (2019). Judicial Process in America
(11th Edition). SAGE Publications, Inc. (US).
https://mbsdirect.vitalsource.com/books/9781544316710
Comparing federal & state courts . (2021). Retrieved from https://www.uscourts.gov/about-
federal-courts/court-role-and-structure/comparing-federal-state-courts