The details of American Judicial Branch

1、v v1. the brief introduction of state systemv2.American court system v3.civil & criminal proceedingsv4.rules of evidenceBrief introduction of American regime The Federal Government of the United States is the central current reigning United States governmental body, established by the United States

2、Constitution. The federal government has three branches: the legislative, executive, and judicial. Through a system of separation of powers and the system of checks and balances, each of these branches has some authority to act on its own, some authority to regulate the other two branches, and has s

3、ome of its own authority, in turn, regulated by the other branches.1vThe policies of the federal government have a broad impact on both the domestic and foreign affairs of the United States. In addition, the powers of the federal government as a whole are limited by the Constitution, which, per the

4、Tenth Amendment, gives all power not directed to the National government, to the State level, or to the people. U.S. Court SystemvU.S. court system is characterized by the dual system, that is, composed of these two separate and parallel system -Federal Courts and State Courts . The federal courts e

5、xercise jurisdiction that the U.S constitution grants the right to the federal government. In the criminal area, the federal courts handle those lawbreaking cases ; in the civil field, the federal courts which try united states, involving “issues of federal nature, and other types of civil cases abo

6、ut citizens of different states and there jurisdictional disputes . In fact, the jurisdiction of state courts are more widely. According to the U.S. Constitution, the territories where the law does not invest with power of federal courts jurisdiction, they will belong to the state court. In practice

7、, the vast majority of criminal cases and most civil cases are tried by the state courts. v 美國(guó)法院系統(tǒng)的突出特點(diǎn)是”雙軌制”，即由聯(lián)邦法院和州法院這兩個(gè)相互獨(dú)立且平行的體系組成。聯(lián)邦法院行使美國(guó)憲法授與聯(lián)邦政府的司法管轄權(quán)。在刑事領(lǐng)域中，聯(lián)邦法院負(fù)責(zé)審理那些違犯聯(lián)邦法律的刑事案件；在民事領(lǐng)域中，聯(lián)邦法院負(fù)責(zé)審理以合眾國(guó)為一方、涉及”聯(lián)邦性質(zhì)的問題”，以及發(fā)生在不同州的公民之間且有管轄權(quán)爭(zhēng)議等種類的民事案件。州法院的司法管轄權(quán)較為廣泛。按照美國(guó)憲法的規(guī)定，凡是法律未明確授與聯(lián)邦法院的司法管轄權(quán)，均屬于州

8、法院。在實(shí)踐中，絕大多數(shù)刑事案件和大多數(shù)民事案件都是由各州法院審判的 Federal Court is a unified system.Federal Courtthe Supreme CourtCourts of AppealsDistrict Courtsthe Court of Claimsthe Customs Courtthe Court of Customs and Patent AppealsSpecial Courtsv 聯(lián)邦法院是一個(gè)統(tǒng)一的系統(tǒng)。它由v 1. 聯(lián)邦最高法院(the Supreme Court)、v 2. 13個(gè)聯(lián)邦上訴法院(Courts of Appeals

9、)和94個(gè)聯(lián)邦地區(qū)法院(District Courts)組成。v 3. 此外還有索賠法院(the Court of Claims)、關(guān)稅法院(the Customs Court)、關(guān)稅及專利上訴法院(the Court of Customs and Patent Appeals)等聯(lián)邦特別法院(Special Courts)。v The state court system is not exactly the same, but generally it also includes three levels of courtsvGrassroots Courts-Trial Court or

10、 Circuit CourtvIntermediate Court-Appellate Court or Court of Appealsv The High Court- Supreme CourtvMany states also have some specialized courts, such as the Probate Court, Juvenile Court, family Court of Domestic Relations and Small Claims Court and so on.v各州的法院系統(tǒng)并不完全相同，但一般也都包括三級(jí)法院：v 1. 基層法院多稱為審判

11、法院(Trial Court)或巡回法院(Circuit Court)；v 2. 中級(jí)法院多稱為上訴法院(Appellate Court or Court of Appeals)；v 3. 高級(jí)法院多稱為最高法院(Supreme Court)，但在紐約等州，高級(jí)法院稱為上訴法院。許多州也有一些專門法院，如遺囑檢驗(yàn)法院(Probate Court)、青少年法院(Juvenile Court)、家庭關(guān)系法院(Court of Domestic Relations)和小額索賠法院(Small Claims Court)等。此外，每個(gè)城市還有自己的法院，主要負(fù)責(zé)審理交通違法、青少年犯罪、家庭糾紛及其他

12、與城市法令有關(guān)的案件。vU.S. federal judges are appointed by the President; but states are more elected judges. And some are appointed by the local Chief Executive (such as governor or mayor) or the local legislative organ (such as state assembly or city councils) .vGenerally speaking, federal and states Suprem

13、e Court judge are called Justice, and the Court of Appeal and trial court judges are referred to Judge. v In addition, some Grassroots court judges who are also known as Justice of the Peace or Magistrate. vAlthough U.S. judges are not divided into levels, people sometimes see the title of judge as

14、the “Vice“, “Associate”, “Deputy,. For example, nine judges in the U.S. Supreme Court, except Chief Justice, the other 8 can be called Associate Justice ; while in some states under Circuit Judge they also have Associate Judge. v In the U.S., the first instance cases are generally tried by one judge

15、 independently, but appeals are tried by several judges (Collegiate Panel or Collegiate Bench) jointly. v 美國(guó)的聯(lián)邦法官都是由總統(tǒng)任命的；各州的法官多經(jīng)選舉產(chǎn)生，但也有些是由地方行政長(zhǎng)官(如州長(zhǎng)或市長(zhǎng))或地方立法機(jī)關(guān)(如州議會(huì)或市議會(huì))任命的。一般來說，聯(lián)邦和州最高法院的法官稱為大法官(Justice)，上訴法院和審判法院的法官則稱為法官(Judge)。此外，有些基層法院的審判人員還稱為治安法官(Justice of the Peace)或司法官(Magistrate)。美國(guó)的法官雖沒有職

16、稱級(jí)別之分，但人們有時(shí)也會(huì)看到”副”(Associate，或譯”助理”)法官的稱謂。例如，美國(guó)聯(lián)邦最高法院的9名大法官中，除首席大法官(Chief Justice)外，其他8人均可稱為副(或助理)大法官(Associate Justice)；而一些州審判法院的巡回法官(Circuit Judge)之下也設(shè)有副(或助理)法官(Associate Judge)。在美國(guó)，一審案件一般由一名法官獨(dú)立審判，上訴案件則由若干名法官組成合議庭(Collegiate Panel or Collegiate Bench)共同審判。Civil proceedingsvAmerican Civil has two

17、significant features: first, adversary system; the other is jury system. vAdversary System means the lawsuit activities are regarded competition as the main content through their lawyers. The judge can only act as an arbitrator and can not conduct an investigation independently. DiagramCompetitionli

18、tigant by parties present evidenceEvidence provedv美國(guó)的民事訴訟具有兩個(gè)顯著的特點(diǎn)：其一是對(duì)抗制或抗辯制（adversary system）;其二是陪審制（jury system）。v所謂對(duì)抗制，就是說訴訟活動(dòng)以雙方當(dāng)事人（通過其律師）的“競(jìng)爭(zhēng)”為主要內(nèi)容。當(dāng)事人提起訴訟；當(dāng)事人提出證據(jù)；當(dāng)事人進(jìn)行證明。而法官只能作為仲裁人，不能進(jìn)行獨(dú)立的調(diào)查。有人曾把對(duì)抗訴訟比喻為一場(chǎng)球賽 雙發(fā)律師及其當(dāng)事人和證人為參賽球員；法官是裁判；雙方“隊(duì)員”竭力在激烈對(duì)抗的比賽中取勝；而法官則保證比賽按規(guī)則進(jìn)行并確定和宣布比賽結(jié)果。在比賽中，法官應(yīng)該保持公正，但是在

19、實(shí)踐中法官偏向某一方“隊(duì)員”的情況亦非罕見。Jury System, is a jury trial system which is composed of a certain number (usually 12) citizens. Jury is selected through certain procedures. They are all random. Jurys duty is based on their common sense to judge the facts of the case, but on issues of law a decision is made b

20、y the judge. Therefore, the jury system is a way to participate a civil trial proceedings. v 所謂陪審制，既由一定數(shù)量（一般為所謂陪審制，既由一定數(shù)量（一般為1212名）名）的普通公民組成陪審團(tuán)參與審判的制度。陪的普通公民組成陪審團(tuán)參與審判的制度。陪審員須經(jīng)一定程序挑選。陪審團(tuán)的職責(zé)是依審員須經(jīng)一定程序挑選。陪審團(tuán)的職責(zé)是依據(jù)他們的常識(shí)來對(duì)案件中的事實(shí)作出判斷，據(jù)他們的常識(shí)來對(duì)案件中的事實(shí)作出判斷，而有關(guān)法律的問題則由法官做出裁定。因此，而有關(guān)法律的問題則由法官做出裁定。因此，陪審制是公民參與審判程序的

21、一種方式。陪審制是公民參與審判程序的一種方式。Over the years, there existed great differences among the civil laws of states. In 1934, the U.S. Congress authorized the Supreme Court to formulate rules of civil procedure. In 1938, the Supreme Court announced the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure .Since then, the rules conti

22、nue to be modified. Indeed, Rules of Civil Procedure in the United States are far from being uniform. v 長(zhǎng)期以來，美國(guó)各州的民事訴訟法律之間一直存在著很大的差異。1934年，美國(guó)國(guó)會(huì)授權(quán)最高法院制定民事程序規(guī)則。1938年，最高法院公布了“聯(lián)邦民事訴訟規(guī)則”（Federal Rules of Civil Procedure）。此后，該規(guī)則不斷被修改。誠(chéng)然，民事訴訟規(guī)則在美國(guó)還遠(yuǎn)遠(yuǎn)沒有得到統(tǒng)一。Criminal procedurevIn Common law countries, the ad

23、versary procedure is generated developed on the basis of the accusatorial procedure .Correspondingly, the inquisitorial procedure has been adopted by the civil law countries. One of the basic principles of the former is no accusation, no trial. vHowever, the British tradition is private prosecution,

24、 that is, Instituting criminal prosecution in the name of an individual as citizens (including police) of; while the United States established public prosecution during the colonial period system, which the prosecution is instituted by prosecution Officer on behalf of the Government or the people.v英

25、美法系國(guó)家的抗辯式訴訟制度英美法系國(guó)家的抗辯式訴訟制度(the adversary (the adversary procedure)procedure)是在控告式訴訟制度是在控告式訴訟制度(the (the accusatorial procedure)accusatorial procedure)的基礎(chǔ)上產(chǎn)生和發(fā)展起的基礎(chǔ)上產(chǎn)生和發(fā)展起來的。與之相對(duì)應(yīng)的是大陸法系國(guó)家采用的糾問式來的。與之相對(duì)應(yīng)的是大陸法系國(guó)家采用的糾問式或?qū)弳柺吭V訟制度或?qū)弳柺吭V訟制度(the inquisitorial (the inquisitorial procedure).procedure).前者的基本原則之一

26、是前者的基本原則之一是“不告不理不告不理”（No accusation, no trial.No accusation, no trial.）。不過，英國(guó)的傳）。不過，英國(guó)的傳統(tǒng)是統(tǒng)是“私訴私訴”（private prosecutionprivate prosecution）, ,即由公民即由公民（包括警察）以個(gè)人名義提起刑事訴訟；而美國(guó)則（包括警察）以個(gè)人名義提起刑事訴訟；而美國(guó)則在殖民地時(shí)期就建立了在殖民地時(shí)期就建立了“公訴公訴”（public public prosecutionprosecution）制度，即由檢察官代表政府或人民）制度，即由檢察官代表政府或人民提起刑事訴訟。提起刑事訴

27、訟。vThere is no doubt that the adversary system is the most important features of criminal procedure, and it often has more significance than the civil. v In addition, rules of criminal procedure in the United States are emphasized on protection of the rights of the accused, so there are many procedu

28、ral safeguards. However, in some cases they have to sacrifice the interest of social security and public in that the U.S. system of criminal proceedings give the accused too much“ protections. The criminal justice system can not combat crime effectively, which is obviously one of the causes of crime

29、 in American society. Some American scholars criticized the United States criminal justice system is no-justice non-system, v毫無疑問，對(duì)抗制或抗辯制也是美國(guó)刑事訴訟程序毫無疑問，對(duì)抗制或抗辯制也是美國(guó)刑事訴訟程序的最主要特點(diǎn)，而且它往往具有較民事訴訟更為重的最主要特點(diǎn)，而且它往往具有較民事訴訟更為重要的意義。此外，美國(guó)的刑事訴訟規(guī)則中很強(qiáng)調(diào)對(duì)要的意義。此外，美國(guó)的刑事訴訟規(guī)則中很強(qiáng)調(diào)對(duì)被告人權(quán)利的保護(hù)，因此有許許多多被告人權(quán)利的保護(hù)，因此有許許多多“程序保障程序保障”（

30、procedural safeguardsprocedural safeguards）。不過，美國(guó)的刑事）。不過，美國(guó)的刑事訴訟制度對(duì)被告人的保護(hù)訴訟制度對(duì)被告人的保護(hù)“太多了太多了”，以至于在某，以至于在某些情況下不得不犧牲社會(huì)安全和公眾利益。刑事司些情況下不得不犧牲社會(huì)安全和公眾利益。刑事司法系統(tǒng)不能有效地打擊犯罪活動(dòng)，這顯然是美國(guó)社法系統(tǒng)不能有效地打擊犯罪活動(dòng)，這顯然是美國(guó)社會(huì)中犯罪問題嚴(yán)重的原因之一。有些美國(guó)學(xué)者批評(píng)會(huì)中犯罪問題嚴(yán)重的原因之一。有些美國(guó)學(xué)者批評(píng)美國(guó)的刑事司法系統(tǒng)美國(guó)的刑事司法系統(tǒng)(criminal justice system)(criminal justice sys

31、tem)是是“不公正的無系統(tǒng)不公正的無系統(tǒng)”(“no-justice non-(“no-justice non-system”,system”,在英語(yǔ)中，在英語(yǔ)中，”justice”justice”一次既可以表示一次既可以表示“司法司法”也可以表示也可以表示“公正公正”) )。v vU.S. criminal law is influenced by its Constitution to a large extent. For example, the U.S. Constitutions fourth, fifth, sixth and other amendments are direc

32、tly related to criminal proceedings. Thus, some American Criminal Procedure Law School course is called Constitutional Criminal Procedure .vU.S. states have their own Code of Criminal Procedure. The Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure of 1946 issued by The Supreme Court has a much smaller impact on

33、states. v美國(guó)的刑事訴訟法律在很大程度上受其憲法的影響。美國(guó)的刑事訴訟法律在很大程度上受其憲法的影響。例如，美國(guó)憲法的第四、第五、第六等修正案都直例如，美國(guó)憲法的第四、第五、第六等修正案都直接與刑事訴訟有關(guān)。因此，美國(guó)一些法學(xué)院教授刑接與刑事訴訟有關(guān)。因此，美國(guó)一些法學(xué)院教授刑事訴訟法的課程就稱為事訴訟法的課程就稱為“憲法刑事訴訟憲法刑事訴訟”（Constitutional Criminal Procedure）。美國(guó)各）。美國(guó)各州都有自己的刑事訴訟法典。最高法院于州都有自己的刑事訴訟法典。最高法院于1946年頒年頒布的布的“聯(lián)邦刑事訴訟規(guī)則聯(lián)邦刑事訴訟規(guī)則”(Federal Rule

34、s of Criminal Procedure)對(duì)各州的影響要比其民事訴對(duì)各州的影響要比其民事訴訟規(guī)格的影響小得多。訟規(guī)格的影響小得多。Rules of evidencevRules of evidence or the law of evidence is general legal principles and rules of admissibility, relevancy, weight and sufficiency, and Burden of Proof and other issues. For example, liability of evidence are part

35、of the plaintiff and the defendant, ; all the witnesses appear for the plaintiff or defendant and not for court; a lot of rules of evidence are made only according to the jury. v 證據(jù)規(guī)則或證據(jù)法是關(guān)于證據(jù)的可采性證據(jù)規(guī)則或證據(jù)法是關(guān)于證據(jù)的可采性(admissibility)、相關(guān)性、相關(guān)性(relevancy)、價(jià)值量、價(jià)值量(weight)和充分性和充分性(sufficiency)以及證明責(zé)任以及證明責(zé)任(Bur

36、den of Proof)等問題的法律原則和規(guī)則的總稱。等問題的法律原則和規(guī)則的總稱。美國(guó)的證據(jù)法與其他程序法一樣，也帶有對(duì)抗式訴美國(guó)的證據(jù)法與其他程序法一樣，也帶有對(duì)抗式訴訟和陪審團(tuán)制度的特征。例如，證據(jù)責(zé)任屬于原告訟和陪審團(tuán)制度的特征。例如，證據(jù)責(zé)任屬于原告和被告而不屬于法官；所有證人都是為原告或被告和被告而不屬于法官；所有證人都是為原告或被告出庭而不是法庭作證；很多證據(jù)規(guī)則都是圍繞著陪出庭而不是法庭作證；很多證據(jù)規(guī)則都是圍繞著陪審團(tuán)的職能而制定的。審團(tuán)的職能而制定的。According to the U.S. law, evidence has two basic types and t

37、he three basic forms. basic typesdirect evidenceindirect evidence(circumstantial evidence)Three basic formsTestimonialevidencetangible evidencejudicial noticevAmong them, the physical evidence is physical exhibit in the case, including real evidence, and demonstrative evidence. The former refers to tangible things of cases such as mu