What was the result of the Judiciary Act of 1789?

Answer 1

The Judiciary Act of 1789 created a the beginning of the three-tiered Federal Court system and established the US Supreme Court as head of the Judicial branch of government.

Not only did this add a new layer to the judiciary that needed to be integrated with the thirteen existing state court systems, it also allowed the federal government to institute a rule of law based on the US Constitution, in place of one based on British common law. The Constitution implemented new ideas and laws that deliberately diverged from conventional British practices the Colonists found oppressive.

Some of the Founding Fathers opposed the existence of a federal judiciary because they feared the courts would allow the federal government to become tyrannical, abrogating state powers and individual liberties. The Bill of Rights was intended to address some of these concerns by specifying citizens' rights relative to law, and by assigning to the states any authority not explicitly given to the three branches of the US government. The Judiciary Act of 1789 had to ensure the legal interests of the state and central governments were balanced. The legislation was remarkable in terms of its complexity, and the compromise it afforded competing interests of the Federalist and anti-Federalist (states' rights) parties.

Senator Oliver Ellsworth (later third Chief Justice of the United States) allied some of the anti-Federalists' fears by providing the lowest federal courts, state-located US District Courts, would initially hear cases involving maritime law, tax collection and petty crimes, while the state courts were allowed trial jurisdiction over federal and constitutional laws and treaties. The US Supreme Court was only allowed to consider these issues after all appeals had been exhausted in the state court system (federal question jurisdiction changed in 1875).

The three Circuit Courts, which were also trial courts under the original legislation, were to convene only twice per year in each state. They would be responsible for hearing issues of greatest contention between the Federalists and anti-Federalists, such as large debts (over $500) to British creditors; disputes between citizens of different states; and major criminal trials. The Circuit Courts would each seat two Supreme Court justices and a District judge to ensure only judges with substantial legal knowledge would consider the contested legal matters.

The US Supreme Court, the only federal appellate court under the 1789 Act, was to comprise one Chief Justice, who would preside over the Court, and five Associate Justices, all of whom would consider matters en banc (as a group). In addition to the areas of original jurisdiction assigned under Article III of the Constitution, the US Supreme Court was allowed to hear cases on appeal if the dispute was in the national interest.

One significant compromise stipulated the Supreme Court would be required to accept facts established in the trial courts, and could only consider matters of law, not evidence. The Supreme Court could hear cases on appeal from either the state or federal courts, providing an enhanced appeals process for the state courts.

Although both the state and federal courts' jurisdiction has changed in the last 200 years, the structure of the federal judiciary is similar to that established in the Judiciary Act of 1789. The purpose of the judiciary act was the first acts of the new Congress in 1789. This is what established the federal court system.

Answer 2

The Judiciary Act 1789 resulted in creation of the Supreme Court with six justices and a Chief Justice, as well as a few District and Circuit courts that represented the beginning of the federal court system.

Answer 3

It brought the US Supreme Court and the Judicial branch of government into existence.

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Answer 4

To establish a federal court system.