Judicial Branch in the United States

Judicial Branch

Introduction to Judicial Branch

Judicial Branch, the portion of the United States national government that decides cases arising under federal laws and under the Constitution of the United States. The judicial branch interprets laws that have been passed by the legislative branch (Congress) and approved by the president of the United States, who leads the executive branch.

Article III of the Constitution vests the judicial power in “one supreme Court, and in such inferior courts as the Congress may from time to time establish.” This means that apart from the Supreme Court, the organization of the judicial branch is left in the hands of Congress. Beginning with the Judiciary Act of 1789, Congress created several types of courts and other judicial organizations, which now include lower courts, specialized courts, and administrative offices to help run the judicial system.” (1)

Judicial Branch

In Legislation

Judicial Branch in the U.S. Code: Title 48, Chapter 12, Subchapter V

The current, permanent, in-force federal laws regulating judicial branch are compiled in the United States Code under Title 48, Chapter 12, Subchapter V. It constitutes “prima facie” evidence of statutes relating to Territories (including judicial branch) of the United States. The reader can further narrow his/her legal research of the general topic (in this case, Virgin Islands of the US Code, including judicial branch) by chapter and subchapter.

Resources

Notes and References

• Information about Judicial Branch in the Encarta Online Encyclopedia

Guide to Judicial Branch

Judicial Branch and the State Laws

Select from the list of U.S. States below for state-specific information on Judicial Branch:

• Judicial Branch in the Subject Index of the Alabama Portal
• Judicial Branch in the Subject Index of the Alaska Portal
• Judicial Branch in the Subject Index of the Arizona Portal
• Judicial Branch in the Subject Index of the Arkansas Portal
• Judicial Branch in the Subject Index of the California Portal
• Judicial Branch in the Subject Index of the Colorado Portal
• Judicial Branch in the Subject Index of the Connecticut Portal
• Judicial Branch in the Subject Index of the Delaware Portal
• Judicial Branch in the Subject Index of the Florida Portal
• Judicial Branch in the Subject Index of the Georgia Portal
• Judicial Branch in the Subject Index of the Hawaii Portal
• Judicial Branch in the Subject Index of the Idaho Portal
• Judicial Branch in the Subject Index of the Illinois Portal
• Judicial Branch in the Subject Index of the Indiana Portal
• Judicial Branch in the Subject Index of the Iowa Portal
• Judicial Branch in the Subject Index of the Kansas Portal
• Judicial Branch in the Subject Index of the Kentucky Portal
• Judicial Branch in the Subject Index of the Louisiana Portal
• Judicial Branch in the Subject Index of the Maine Portal
• Judicial Branch in the Subject Index of the Maryland Portal
• Judicial Branch in the Subject Index of the Massachusetts Portal
• Judicial Branch in the Subject Index of the Michigan Portal
• Judicial Branch in the Subject Index of the Minnesota Portal
• Judicial Branch in the Subject Index of the Mississippi Portal
• Judicial Branch in the Subject Index of the Missouri Portal
• Judicial Branch in the Subject Index of the Montana Portal
• Judicial Branch in the Subject Index of the Nebraska Portal
• Judicial Branch in the Subject Index of the Nevada Portal
• Judicial Branch in the Subject Index of the New Hampshire Portal
• Judicial Branch in the Subject Index of the New Jersey Portal
• Judicial Branch in the Subject Index of the New Mexico Portal
• Judicial Branch in the Subject Index of the New York Portal
• Judicial Branch in the Subject Index of the North Carolina Portal
• Judicial Branch in the Subject Index of the North Dakota Portal
• Judicial Branch in the Subject Index of the Ohio Portal
• Judicial Branch in the Subject Index of the Oklahoma Portal
• Judicial Branch in the Subject Index of the Oregon Portal
• Judicial Branch in the Subject Index of the Pennsylvania Portal
• Judicial Branch in the Subject Index of the Rhode Island Portal
• Judicial Branch in the Subject Index of the South Carolina Portal
• Judicial Branch in the Subject Index of the South Dakota Portal
• Judicial Branch in the Subject Index of the Tennessee Portal
• Judicial Branch in the Subject Index of the Texas Portal
• Judicial Branch in the Subject Index of the Utah Portal
• Judicial Branch in the Subject Index of the Vermont Portal
• Judicial Branch in the Subject Index of the Virginia Portal
• Judicial Branch in the Subject Index of the Washington Portal
• Judicial Branch in the Subject Index of the West Virginia Portal
• Judicial Branch in the Subject Index of the Wisconsin Portal
• Judicial Branch in the Subject Index of the Wyoming Portal

Judicial Branch in State Statute Topics

Introduction to Judicial Branch (State statute topic)

The purpose of Judicial Branch is to provide a broad appreciation of the Judicial Branch legal topic. Select from the list of U.S. legal topics for information (other than Judicial Branch).

Resources

Further Reading

• Information about Judicial Branch in the Gale Encyclopedia of American Law.