US Judicial System Slide Show 7

IntroductiontotheUSJudicialSystemSunYatSenUniversitySchoolofLawFall2010ClassSeven:AmericanJudicialSystemandInterpretingCaseLawHanShan,8thCenturyClamberinguptheColdMountainpath,TheColdMountaintrailgoesonandon:Thelonggorgechokedwithscreeandboulders,Thewidecreek,themist-blurredgrass.Themossisslippery,thoughthere'sbeennorainThepinesings,butthere'snowind.Whocanleaptheworld'stiesAndsitwithmeamongthewhiteclouds?Overview•Gooverquizzes•AmericanJudicialSystem•CaseLawStudentQuestionIstheresomethingIcanlearnabouttheUSlegalsystemfromTVshows?FederalCourtJurisdiction•Federalgovernmenthasonlythosepowersgiventoitandallresidualpowersremainwiththestates•So...anycasesnotexclusivelywithinfederaljurisdictionbelongsinthestatecourtsFederalCourtJurisdiction•Criminal:Easy--Allviolationsoffederalcriminallawfallwithinfederaljurisdiction•Civil:MorecomplicatedFederalCourtJurisdiction:Civil•WheretheUnitedStatesisaparty•InCasesbetweenprivatepartiesinvolvingfederallaws(federalquestion)•Casesbetweencitizensofdifferentstates(diversity)ExclusiveFederalJurisdiction•Bankruptcy•Admiralty•PatentandcopyrightlawU.S.SupremeCourtJurisdiction•Disputesbetweenstates•DisputesbetweenastateandtheU.S.government•OnlytakescasesthataresubstantialthroughwritofcertiorariLimitationsonFederalCourtJurisdiction•Limitedtoa“caseorcontroversy”–noadvisoryopinions•WillnotreviewstatecourtdecisionsthatdonotaffectafederallaworConstitutionalconsiderationIsitimportantforcourtdecisionstobepublished?CaseNames•NameofPlaintiffversusNameofDefendant(e.g.Mearsvs.Huang)•Criminalcases:Statevs.Defendant(Vermontvs.Mears)•Propertyatissue:Inre:[NameofProperty]FormatofMostDecisions•Summaryofdecision•Judge’sname•Namesoftheattorneys•OpinionContentofOpinions(Decisions)•Proceduralhistory•Facts•Issues•Law(cases,regulations,statutesandanyotherapplicablelaw)•Analysisanddecision•MayincludeconcurringanddissentingopinionsHowdoyoufindcaselaw?•Officialpublication:federal,regional,state•Citedaccordingtothevolumenumberandpageoftheofficialpublication(e.g.Mearsv.Huang,136U.S.495(2010))•Organizedbyissueusingasystemofdigests•Citationservicescantellyouwhetheracasehasbeenoverturned•Computersearches(Westlaw,Lexis,Loislaw,internet)DecidingtheControversy•ResJudicata:partiesmaynotrelitigatecasesorissuesthathavealreadybeendecided•MayneedtocreatelawinordertodecidethecaseifneveraddressedbeforeWhyadoptasystemofstaredecisis?StareDecisis•Equality•Predictability•Economy•Respect•Alsoconsistentwithhaving3BranchesofGovernment--LeavethejobofwritingnewlawstothelegislaturePersuasiveorBindingAuthority?•Persuasive:fromlowerorequalcourtsinthesamejurisdiction,orcourtsfromanotherjurisdiction•Binding:fromhighercourtsinthesamejurisdictionordecisionsbythesamecourtFactorsaffectingpersuasiveness•Similarityofthefactsofthecase•Forceofreasoning•Soundnessoftheresult•Reputationofthecourtorjudge•NumberofdecisionsreachingasimilarresultHoldingversusDictum•“Holding”istheruleoflawnecessaryforthedecision•“Dictum”isanyotherstatementofthelawintheopinion–notbindingbutmaybepersuasiveOverrulingPrecedent•Priordecisionwasclearlywrongwhendecided•Priordecisionbasedonanoutdatedunderstandingofimportantfactsorconditions•Therehasbeenachangeinthecourt•QuestionsaboutretroactivityarisewhenprecedentisoverruledScottv.Bradford•Issue:DoesOklahomafollowtheruleofinformedconsentasthebasisforanactionformedicalmalpractice?•ProceduralPosture:Appealfromajudgmentinfavorofdefendantsurgeonafterajurytrial.Facts:Scottv.Bradford•Mrs.Scottdiagnosedwithfibroidtumors•Shegoestothehospitaltohaveheruterusremoved•Shesignsaroutineconsentformbeforethesurgery•ThesurgerydoesnotworkandsherequiresthreeadditionalsurgeriestocorrecttheproblemLaw:Scottv.Bradford•Ruleof“informedconsent”requiresthedoctortoinformapatientoftheiroptionsandrisksassociatedwitheachoption–Ifobtainsconsentbutfailedtoproperlyinform,thendoctorliablefornegligenceeveniftheyexercisedduecare–ThisrulewasnotadoptedinOklahomapriortothiscaseLaw:Scottv.Bradford•Burdenonplaintifftoshow–(1)thatthedoctordidnotinformherofamaterialriskand–(2)shewouldhavedeclinedtreatmentorselectedanotheroptionhadthenotificationbeenmadeand–(3)shesufferedaninjuryasaresultAnalysis:Scottv.BradfordCourtadopted“informedconsent”butrejected“reasonableman”standardinapplyingthisstandardbecausethebasisofthelawisthateverypersonhasarighttomakeherowndecisionsaboutherbody.Analysis:Scottv.BradfordWhilethisapproachputsadoctoratriskofliabilityfromapatientwhodoesnotliketheoutcomeofasurgery,thedoctorcanprotecthimorherselfbydisclosingtherisksHolding:Scottv.Bradford•Juryinstructionssaidthatthedoctorshouldhavedisclosedmaterialrisksandalternatives,andsoweresufficient.•Judgmentaffirmed.•Becausethisrulingdepartsfromprecedent,itisprospectiveonly.ClassExercise•Non-medicalhealthprovider:Useoftraditionalherbalmedications•Persontakesherbsreputedtocurebaldnessbasedonadvicefromherbalist•Signsadocumentinformingofavarietyofrisks•Suffersliverfailureasaresultandhastogoondialysis•SuesherbalistbasedonfailuretoproperlyinformofrisksandalternativesNextClassNovember8:AmericanLegislativeSystemandS