At trial, one. On appeal, it depends on the court.
Jurisdiction
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The US Supreme Court determines whether to hear a case according to the Rule of Four. If at least four of the nine Justices of the Supreme Court agree, they will grant certiorari and hear the case.
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The COURT doesn't decide to hear a case based on evidence, the evidence only needs to convince the Prosecutor that a crime occurred, then HE brings the case to court for prosecution.
12 people must be on a jury in a capital case 6 in civil or varies by state
In choosing a court, the attorney must choose which court has the authority to hear a particular case. This is referred to as Jurisdiction.
No, a judge's opinion must be based on statutory law, common law, or case law.
The District Courts are the courts of original jurisdiction. Essentially each state is divided into federal districts and judges and/or juries hear cases. The District Court makes determinations about the facts of the case (what really happened, when it happened, which witness' testimony was more reliable, etc.) and then issues a Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law and Judgment. If one party disagrees with the district court's decision, you may appeal to the Federal Court of Appeals for your district. Courts of Appeals and the Supreme Court do NOT hear witness testimony, they only hear legal argument.
Judges are a necessary part of the process in applying and interpreting the Constitution. If Judges do not use and apply the rules laid down in the Constitution, it means nothing. to do that, a judge must determine how the constitution applies to the specific issues in the case being considered.
No. A court must have jurisdiction (the legal right to hear a case) over the parties, subject matter, and territory in order to render a binding decision. In fact, the court must have appropriate jurisdiction just to hear the case.
If your statement is true (I doubt that EVERY case is affirmed) it must mean that the lower courts are doing their jobs correctly.