AnIntroductiontoNorthCarolina’sJudicialBranch
Overview
Inthefollowingactivities,studentswillgainanunderstandingofthestructureoftheNorthCarolinajudicial
branch.Throughactivityoptionssuchasaposterchallenge,aPowerPointpresentation,andakinesthetic
partneractivitystudentswilllearnabouttheorganizationandresponsibilitiesofcourtsinNorthCarolina.
Grade
10
NorthCarolinaEssentialStandardsforAmericanHistory:FoundingPrinciples,Civics&Economics
• FP.C&G.5.2-Analyzestateandfederalcourtsbyoutliningtheirjurisdictionsandtheadversarialnatureof
thejudicialprocess(e.g.,Appellate,Exclusive,Concurrent,Original,typesoffederalcourts,typesofstate
courts,oralargument,courtroomrules,SupremeCourt,opinions,CourtDocket,Prosecutor/Prosecution,
Complaint,Defendant,Plaintiff,hearing,bail,indictment,sentencingComplaint,Defendant,Plaintiff,
hearing,bail,indictment,sentencing,appeal,etc.).
EssentialQuestions
• WhatisthestructureoftheNCJudicialbranch?
• Whattypesofcasesarehandledbythecourtsofthejudicialbranch?
• WhoaretheimportantofficialsatworkwithinNCjudicialbranch?
Materials
• NCJudicialBranchPowerPoint,availableintheDatabaseofK-12Resources
o ToviewthisPDFasaprojectablepresentation,savethefile,click“View”inthetopmenubarofthe
file,andselect“FullScreenMode”
o TorequestaneditablePPTversionofthispresentation,[email protected]
• NCCourtSystemGraphicOrganizer,attached
• NCJudicialBranchPoster,availableintheDatabaseofK-12Resourcesorbye-mailingarequestto
[email protected]
• NCJudicialBranchPosterChallenge&AnswerKey,attached
• HelpDeskJobDescription&CrimeScenarios,activityattached
• Posterpaper,markers,scissors,andglue
• NCCourtSystemWebQuest,worksheetandanswerkeyattached
• CreateaWantAdforaNCJudicialCandidate,activityattached
• Sampletestquestionsandanswerkey,attached
Duration
Variesbasedonwhichactivitiesareimplemented
Activities
ThefollowingarevariousactivitychoicesforteachingstudentsaboutNorthCarolina’sJudicialBranch.
Teachersshouldpickandchoosewhichactivitiesbestalignwiththeirinstructionalgoals.
1. PowerPointIntroductiontoNorthCarolina’sJudicialBranch
UsetheNCJudicialBranchPowerPointtointroducestudentstothestructureandpurposeofNC’sJudicial
Branch.Studentsshouldfillouttheattached“NCCourtSystemGraphicOrganizer”throughoutthe
presentationanddiscussion.
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2. NCJudicialBranchPosterChallenge
HavestudentscompletetheNCJudicialBranchposterchallenge(attached)usingaprint-outofNCJudicial
Branchposter,bothofwhichcanbeaccessedinCarolinaK-12’sDatabaseofK-12Resources
(k12database.unc.edu).Teachersmaywanttoofferaprizeforthefirstteamtogetallofthecorrect
answers.Reviewanswerswhengroupshavefinished.
3. HelpDeskSpecialist-HelpDefendantsFindtheCorrectCourtRoom!
Placestudentsingroupsoftwo.Giveeachgroupacopyoftheattached“HelpDeskJobDescription,”crime
scenarios,apieceofposterpaper,markers,andapairofscissors.Tellthestudentstheyhavebeenhired
bytheNCCourtsystemtoworkatthehelpdesk.Oneresponsibilityofbeingahelpdeskreceptionististo
directpeopletowhichcourttheircasewillbeheard.
• First,thestudentswillcreateaposterrepresentingtheNCCourtSystem.Thepostershouldincludea
graphicorganizeroftheNCCourtsystem(itcanbesimilartotheonefromthehandout,but
encouragestudentstothinkofanotherwaytorepresentthestructure)aswellasartworktoassist
posterviewersinlearningaboutNorthCarolina’scourts.
• EachpairshouldthencutoutthedifferentscenesfromtheCrimeScenarioshandoutandgluethemto
theappropriatecourtontheNCcourtgraphicorganizertheycreated.Allowstudentstosharetheir
postersandreviewcorrectanswers.
4. NCCourtSystemWebQuest
Havestudentscompletethe“NCCourtSystemWebQuest,”attached
5. CreateaWantAdforaNCJudicialCandidate
Providestudentswiththeattachedassignmentsheetandinstructstudentstodesigna“WantAd”
advertisingtheskills,background,values,andanyotherimportantcriteriayouthinkacandidateforthe
NorthCarolinaJudicialBranchshouldpossess.
6. SampleTestQuestions
AdditionalActivities
• CarolinaK-12’s“TheSupremeCourtofNorthCarolina”,availableintheDatabaseofK-12Resourcesorby
[email protected]
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NCCourtsSystemOrganization
SupremeCourt
HowmanyJustices?
WhatCases:
CourtofAppeals
Howmanyjudgespercourtroom?
HowmanyjudgesontheCourtofAppealsinall?
WhatCases:
SuperiorCourt
Howmanydistrictsanddivisions?
Whatcases:
DistrictCourt
Whatarethefourcategories?
Isthereajury?
Whatcases:
Additionalnotes:
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NCJudicialBranchPosterChallenge
Overview
UsingtheNorthCarolina’sJudicialBranchposterandyourownbackgroundknowledge,workinsmallgroups
tofindanswerstothequestionsbelow.
1. Whatarethenamesofyourgroupmembers?______________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
2. WhatarethequalificationstobeajurorinNorthCarolina?_____________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
3. NorthCarolina’sCourtofAppealsiscomprisedof_______judges.
4. DistrictCourtsinNorthCarolinahearcivilcasesinvolvinglessthan$__________________.
5. IsthereanyoneinyourgroupwhowouldliketohaveajobwithinorconnectedtotheNCjudicialsystem
oneday?(i.e.lawyer,judge,clerk,policeofficer,legislator,etc.)?Ifso,whoand
why?___________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
6. Whoappointsmagistrates?___________________________________________________________
7. WhatarethethreedivisionsofNorthCarolina’sGeneralCourtofJustice?_________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
8. DoestheNorthCarolinaCourtofAppealsemployajury?______________________________________
9. Whattypesoffamilymattersdocivilcourtshearcasesabout?__________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
10. SuperiorCourtjudgesareelectedto___-yearterms,andDistrictCourtjudgesareelectedto___-year
terms.
11. WhicharticleoftheNCConstitutionoutlinesthejudicialpowerofthestate?_______________________
12. WhatistheroleofNorthCarolina’sSupremeCourt?________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
13. WhattypeofoffenseswouldlandyouinDistrictCourt?_______________________________________
14. WhichofthethreetypesofcasesthatDistrictCourthearsisthemostcommon?_____________________
15. ClerksofCourtareelectedto___-yeartermsandareelectedatthe_______________level.
16. WhyshouldyoubeawareofthefunctionsoftheNCJudicialBranch?Whyisthisimportanttostudy?___
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
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JudicialBranchPosterChallenge:
AnswerKey
1. Whatarethenamesofyourgroupmembers?Answerswillvary.
2. WhatarethequalificationstobeajurorinNorthCarolina?citizenofthestateandresidentofthe
county;18yearsoldorolder;abletospeakandunderstandEnglish;physicallyandmentally
competent;andhavenofelonyconviction.
3. NorthCarolina’sCourtofAppealsiscomprisedof15judges.
4. DistrictCourtsinNorthCarolinahearcivilcasesinvolvinglessthan$10,000
5. IsthereanyoneinyourgroupwhowouldliketohaveajobwithinorconnectedtotheNCjudicial
systemoneday?Answerswillvary.
6. Whoappointsmagistrates?theSeniorResidentSuperiorCourtJudge
7. WhatarethethreedivisionsofNorthCarolina’sGeneralCourtofJustice?AppellateDivision,
SuperiorCourtDivision,andDistrictCourtDivision
8. DoestheNorthCarolinaCourtofAppealsemployajury?no
9. Whattypesoffamilymattersdocivilcourtshearcasesabout?divorce,custody,childsupport,
adoption,anddomesticviolence
10. SuperiorCourtjudgesareelectedto8-yearterms,andDistrictCourtjudgesareelectedto4-year
terms.
11. WhicharticleoftheNCConstitutionoutlinesthejudicialpowerofthestate?VI(Article4)
12. WhatistheroleofNorthCarolina’sSupremeCourt?todeterminelegalerrororinterpretationof
thelaw
13. WhattypeofoffenseswouldlandyouinDistrictCourt?Answerswillvarybetweencivil,criminal,
andjuvenileexamples
14. WhichofthethreetypesofcasesthatDistrictCourthearsisthemostcommon?criminalcases
15. ClerksofCourtareelectedto4-yeartermsandareelectedatthecountylevel.
16. WhyshouldyoubeawareofthefunctionsoftheNCJudicialBranch?Whyisthisimportanttostudy?
Answerswillvary.
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HelpDeskSpecialistJobDescription
WelcometotheNCJudicialBranch!Asahelpdeskspecialist,oneofyourresponsibilitieswillbe
assistingdefendantslocatethecorrectcourtroom.Belowisalistoflostdefendants.Your
responsibilityistocreateamapoftheorganizationoftheNCCourtSystemontheposterpaper
andhelpeachdefendantfindwheretheyaregoingbygluingtheirdescriptionintheappropriate
spot.
Responsibilities:
ü CreateaposteroftheNCJudicialBranchthatincludestheDistrictCourt,theSuperior
Court,theCourtofAppeals,andtheSupremeCourt
ü Cutoutthestoriesfrombelowandgluethemtotheappropriatecourtontheposter
Donotdally!Thesepoorfolkswillbeheldincontemptofcourtifyoucan’thelpthemquick…
JerryBlankappealshersentenceofthedeathpenaltyforthemurderofabicyclist.
BobBellwasissuedaspeedingticketforgoingtenmilesoverthespeedlimit.
KimBlackburnwasarrestedforstealingaCadillacEscalade.
BillBradyissuingNCbecausehegoestoaterriblehighschoolbasedonhisrightforapublic
education.
TammyBullockwasarrestedforstealingastopsign.
TimBraddockisbeingchargedwitharmedrobbery.
MariaCooperisappealinghersentenceof2000communityservicehoursfordistributingillegal
substances.
AnthonyDeltorowasarrestedforpossessingasmallamountofmarijuana(undera¼ounce).
BrandonDonahuewasgivenaticketforjaywalking,butheplanstopleadnotguilty.
LisaFlemingwasarrestedfordrivingwithoutavaliddriver’slicense.
EddieFlowersisappealinghissentenceof6monthsinprisonforpiratingDVDs.
GeorgeFowlerwasinvoluntarilycommittedintoamentalhealthhospitalbyhisstepdaughter,
LulaFowler.
BernardGuidowasarrestedforpublicintoxication.Guidois16yearsold.
JimHoltissuinghisex-girlfriend,SusieLillington,fortheamountof$50,000ingraduateschool
tuitionthatheloanedher.
Anunnamedpublicofficialwasgivenamisdemeanorticketforunsafehuntingpracticeafteran
accidentalshooting.
BarbaraHallisaccusedofcontributingtothedelinquencyofaminorbecausesheboughtbeer
forherteenager’sparty.
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TiawanaLaurenceisappealingherguiltyverdictforahitandrunaccidentinvolvingherPontiac
andaneighbor’sfrontporch.
AudreyLewisissuingherlocalgovernmentforhinderingherrighttoreligiousliberty.
RobertHillwasarrestedformisdemeanorpubliclyindecencywhenhetriedtostartastreak
afterafratparty.
BillyMcCain,akaMr.Pink,wasaccusedofstealing$100,000dollarsindiamondsfromajewelry
dealer.
ReginaldKellerwasaccusedofgivingfictitiousinformationtoapoliceofficer.
RobbieGladissuingJeremyAllenforabreachofcontractfor$500.
BillBradleyisfilingfordivorcefromhiswife,HenriettaBradley.
SterlingRobertswasarrestedformisdemeanordestructionofpublicpropertyandnoise
violationslateSaturdayeveningafterthecrushingdefeatofDukebyNumber1rankedUNC
ChapelHill.
AndyDufrainisappealinghisconvictionforthemurderofhiswife,Renee.Theconvictionwas
alreadyupheldinaCourtofAppeals.
JavierRodriguezwasfoundwith500poundsofmarijuanainhisresidenceinZebulon,NC.
RobertWakefieldisarrestedfordrivingundertheinfluenceofalcohol.Heblewa.20blood
alcohollevel.
AntonChigurhisrequestinganewtrialwithajuryafterbeingfoundguiltyforcarryinga
concealedweaponwithoutapermitinadistrictcourt.
MattLilesisappealinghisrecentdisbarringfromtheNCStateBar.
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Name:____________________________
NCCourtSystem-WebQuest
Directions:Useyourownknowledgeandtheinformationfoundathttp://www.nccourts.orgto
completethefollowingquestions.
1. WhatisthehighestcourtinNorthCarolina?__________________________________________
Howmanyjusticessitonapanelinthiscourt?___________________________________
2. DistrictCourtsarealsocalledwhatkindofcourtsinNorthCarolina? ______________________
Whatarethefourcategoriesthatdistrictcourtsaredividedinto? ____________________
_________________________________________________________________________
3. Inwhichcourtwouldthefollowingsituationbeheard:District,Superior,orSupreme?
a. Sarah,a14-year-old,isaccusedofbeingdelinquent.
b. Willhascommittedarson,whichisafelonyinNorthCarolina.
c. Harryisgoingtoappealhisdeathpenaltysentence.
d. MollyandJustinhavebeenmarriedforfiveyearsandwanttogetadivorce.
4. WhattwocourtsmakeuptheAppellatedivisionoftheNCCourtSystem? WhatisthemainpurposeoftheAppellatedivision? ______________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
5. HowmanycasesdoesthetrialdivisionoftheNCCourtSystemhandleeachyear? Whichcourtsareapartofthetrialdivision? _____________________________________
6. YouareangrybecauseJohnJohnsonhasborrowed$3,400fromyouandhasn’tpaidyouback.
a. Whereshouldyoufilealawsuitagainsthimandwhowillhearthecase?
______________________________________________________________________
b. WhatifJohnJohnsonowedyou$8,000?
_________________________________________________________________________
7. Youhavejustbeenfoundguiltyofacrimebutknowyouareinnocent!Whatcanyoudoabout
thejudge’swrongdecision?
_________________________________________________________________________
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8. Whatarethreedutiesofamagistrate,whoisajudicialofficeroftheDistrictCourt?
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
9. WhataretheeligibilityrequirementstoserveonajuryforjurydutyinNorthCarolina?
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
10. WhoisthechiefjusticeontheNCSupremeCourt?
11. YourfriendTonyaisscheduletobeincriminalcourtnextweek,butshedoesn’twanttogo.What
couldhappentoherifshedecidesnottoshowup?
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
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NCCourtSystemWebQuest
ANSWERKEY
1. WhatisthehighestcourtinNorthCarolina?TheSupremeCourtofNorthCarolinaHowmany
justicessitonapanelinthiscourt?achiefjusticeandsixassociatejustices
2. DistrictCourtsarealsocalledwhatkindofcourtsinNorthCarolina?Trialcourts
Whatarethefourcategoriesthatdistrictcourtsaredividedinto?civil,criminal,juvenileand
magistrate
3. Inwhichcourtwouldthefollowingsituationbeheard:District,Superior,orSupreme?
a. Sarah,a14-year-old,isaccusedofbeingdelinquent.District
b. Willhascommittedarson,whichisafelonyinNorthCarolina.Superior
c. Harryisgoingtoappealhisdeathpenaltysentence.Supreme
d. MollyandJustinhavebeenmarriedforfiveyearsandwanttogetadivorce.District
4. WhattwocourtsmakeuptheAppellatedivisionoftheNCCourtSystem?
SupremeCourtandCourtofAppeals
WhatisthemainpurposeoftheAppellatedivision?TheSupremeCourtandCourtofAppeals
reviewtrialcourtdecisionsinwhichapartyclaimsthejudgemadeanerrorapplyingthelaw.
5. HowmanycasesdoesthetrialdivisionoftheNCCourtSystemhandleeachyear?3.2mission
cases
Whichcourtsareapartofthetrialdivision?TheSuperiorandDistrictcourts
6. YouareangrybecauseJohnJohnsonhasborrowed$3400fromyouandhasn’tpaidyouback.
a. Whereshouldyoufilealawsuitagainsthimandwhowillhearthecase?Disputesupto
$5000canbebroughtinsmallclaimscourt,whichisadivisionoftheDistrictCourt.These
casesareheardbymagistrates.
b. WhatifJohnJohnsonowedyou$8,000?Disputesupto$10,000canbefiledinDistrictCourt.
ThesecasesaretriedbeforeaDistrictCourtJudgeorjury,butmaybefirstsentto
arbitration.
7. Youhavejustbeenfoundguiltyofacrimebutknowyouareinnocent!Whatcanyoudoabout
thejudge’swrongdecision?Youcanappealthedecisionofthejudgeorjury.Forsmallclaims
cases,theappealistoDistrictCourt.Formostothercases,theappealistotheNorthCarolina
CourtofAppeals.
8. Whatarethreedutiesofamagistrate,whoisajudicialofficeroftheDistrictCourt?
a. Incriminalcases,amagistrateissueswarrantsandsetsbail.
b. Amagistratemayacceptguiltypleasandpaymentsoffinesandcostsfortrafficviolations
andminormisdemeanorsand,insomecounties,mayconducttrialsincertainworthless
checkcases.
c. Incivilcases,themagistratepresidesoversmallclaimscourt.
9. WhataretheeligibilityrequirementstoserveonajuryforjurydutyinNorthCarolina?Tobe
eligibletoserveasajurorinNorthCarolina,apersonmustbeacitizenofthestateanda
residentofthecounty,andhavenotservedasajurorinthepasttwoyears.Jurorsmustbe18
yearsofage,orolder,andthereisnomaximumagelimit.Theymustbementallyandphysically
competent,beabletounderstandEnglish,andnothavebeenconvictedofafelony,unlesstheir
citizenshiprightshavebeenrestored.
10. WhoisthechiefjusticeontheNCSupremeCourt?SarahParker
11. YourfriendTonyaisscheduletobeincriminalcourtnextweek,butshedoesn’twanttogo.What
couldhappentoherifshedecidesnottoshowup?Ifyoudonotgotocourtonthedatethat
youaresupposedto,thenanOrderforArrestmaybeissuedonthatday.Ifyoumisscourt,then
gototheClerk’sOfficeimmediatelyandexplainthesituation.Youmaybeassignedanother
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courtdateoryoumaynot.Askingforanewcourtdatedoesnotmeanthatyouwillgetit.Itis
yourresponsibilitytoarriveatcourtonyourcourtdateandtoarriveatcourtontime.You
shouldalsobeawarethatyourfailuretoappearincourtmightresultintherevocationofyour
driverslicense.
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Createa“WantAd”foraNCJudicialCandidate
YourAssignedCourtLevel:____________________________
(eitherSupreme,Appeals,Superior,orDistrict)
Whatqualitiesdoyouthinkthattheidealjudgeshouldhave?Doyouthinktheyshouldhaveadegree
fromHarvardlaw?DoesitmatteriftheyareanativeNorthCarolinian?Arethereparticular
experienceshe/sheshouldhave?Shouldtheyencompassparticularpersonalitytraits,values,or
views?ThisisyourchancetoadvertiseontheCraigslist“Jobs”sectiontorecruitjudgestorunfora
particularleveloftheNCJudicialBranch.
Designa“WantAd”advertisingtheskills,background,values,andanyotherimportantcriteriayou
thinkacandidatefortheNorthCarolinaJudicialBranchshouldpossess.Makesuretoincludethe
qualificationsyouareseekinginthesecategories:
ü Backgroundinformation(universityattended,degree,previousexperience,etc.)
ü Personalinformation(family,placeofresidence,hobbies,etc.)
ü Moralandethicalprinciples
ü Skillsrelatedtothejudicialprocess
ü Particularjudicialbeliefs/politicalstances(i.e.,stanceonrighttolife,deathpenalty,gunlaws,
etc.)
ü Otherparticularqualificationsyourgroupfeelsisimportantinfindingthebestcandidate
UsethefollowingpostingfromCraiglistasaformatforwritingyour“WantedAd.”Youfinalproduct
shouldbemoredetailed,containingatleast8sentencesofdescription.
raleighcraigslist>legaljobs
Paralegal(DowntownRaleigh)
Replyto:
Date:
Paralegal/legalassistantneededinmid-sizeddowntownRaleighlawfirmtoassistattorneyswithbusy
andrewardingadoption/familylawpractice.Idealcandidatehasgoodworkethic,detailorientedand
superiororganizationalskills.MSWordexperiencerequired.Benefitsincludehealth,life,401(k)and
parking.
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SampleTestQuestions
1.
TheStructureofNCCourts
NC Supreme Court
Superior Court
Superior Court
Whichcourtcorrectlycompletesthegraphicabove?
A)Magistrate
B)USSupremeCourt
C)InternationalCriminalCourt
D)CourtofAppeals
2.Whichcourtwouldthetrialforarmedrobberymostlikelyoccur?
A)Magistrate
B)District
C)Superior
D)Supreme
3.WhichbestexplainstheroleofjuriesinNorthCarolinaappealscourts?
A)Juriesdecidethedefendant’sinnocenceorguilt
B)Juriesdecidesentencingfordefendantsfoundguiltybyajudge
C)Juriesreviewthedecisionsmadebyjudgestoensurefairness
D)NorthCarolinaappealscourtsdonothavejuries
4.WhichNorthCarolinacourtwouldheartheappealofadefendantsentencedtothedeathpenalty?
A)District
B)Superior
C)CourtofAppeals
D)Supreme
?
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PracticeEOCMultipleChoiceQuestions-ANSWERKEY
1.
TheStructureofNCCourts
NC Supreme Court
Superior Court
Superior Court
Whichcourtcorrectlycompletesthegraphicabove?
A)Magistrate
B)USSupremeCourt
C)InternationalCriminalCourt
D)CourtofAppeals
2.Whichcourtwouldthetrialforarmedrobberymostlikelyoccur?
A)Magistrate
B)District
C)Superior
D)Supreme
3.WhichbestexplainstheroleofjuriesintheNorthCarolinaappealscourts?
A)Juriesdecidethedefendant’sinnocenceorguilt
B)Juriesdecidesentencingfordefendantsfoundguiltybyajudge
C)Juriesreviewthedecisionsmadebyjudgestoensurefairness
D)NorthCarolinaappealscourtsdonothavejuries
4.Whichcourtwouldheartheappealofadefendantsentencedtothedeathpenalty?
A)District
B)Superior
C)CourtofAppeals
D)Supreme
?
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