3.5 "Trump & Circuit Courts"

1. Where do the district court and appellate court fit into the organization of the federal courts?

The district court is a trial court within the Ninth Circuit. The appellate court is a step higher overseeing all individual courts.

2. What makes the 9th Circuit stand out from the other circuit courts?

It is considered liberal and is prone to left-wing rulings often overturned by the Supreme Court. It is also the largest amongst its peers.

3. What historical cause may make this Circuit Court more liberal than others?

Carter's appointment of 15 judges of whom were some of the most liberal may be the cause.

4. Give two examples of very liberal decisions that have come from judges on this court.

The Ninth Circuit ruled that the Second Amendment does not recognize an individual right to bear arms, and argued that bans on assisted suicide are unconstitutional.

5. What happens to most appellate court decisions when they reach the Supreme Court?

Most decisions by appellate courts are overturned by the Supreme Court.

6. Which Circuit Courts are overturned more often than the 9th Circuit?

The Sixth Circuit and Eleventh Circuit are overturned more than the Ninth.

7. Does the ideology of the court impact how often the Supreme Court overturns their rulings?  How do we know?

It does not impact this because both liberal and conservative courts rank in the highest of rulings that get overturned.