This short course offers an introduction to the U.S. judicial system, why it should matter to every citizen, and what your role can be within the system.
It begins by exploring different ideas of justice—fairness, protection of rights, accountability, social good, and fair process—showing that our courts are where these principles are tested in daily life. It then explains the essential roles of courts: interpreting laws, protecting liberties, holding government accountable, and ensuring fair processes, while also noting alternatives like mediation. Readers are introduced to the dual structure of state and federal courts, how cases move through them, and how judicial review checks other branches of government. Special attention is given to practical concepts like standing and jurisdiction, and to the ways courts shape elections, safeguard civil liberties, and balance freedom with accountability.
The short course also examines imperfections such as unequal access to lawyers, limits on enforcement power, and the impact of partisanship, thus reminding readers that courts are powerful but not flawless. And, of course, judges and juries are not infallible; they can and do make mistakes from time to time.
Last, but not least, it highlights the reader’s role: electing judges in some states, electing presidents and senators who shape the federal judiciary for generations, and serving on juries. The bottom line is that courts affect our everyday freedoms—work, family, speech, privacy, voting—and that citizen engagement is essential to ensure judicial decisions are fair and trustworthy.
