What is the difference with original jurisdiction between the Supreme Court and lower courts?

Answer 1

Lower courts can make the convictions. Convictions are appealed to a higher court, usually a District Court or a Court of Appeals. If the higher court upholds the original conviction, then it can be appealed to the State Supreme Court, and in rare instances, to the United States Supreme Court. The highest court makes the final decision, whether to uphold or deny the decisions of the lower courts.

Answer 2

Cases rarely start with the Supreme Court. It is usually just an appellate court, one that reviews decisions already given by lower courts... and even then, it chooses a very small number of those cases to answer. There are rare instances in which the Supreme Court has original jurisdiction, meaning that cases go directly to that court, bypassing all others. One example is a dispute between two states. There's also original jurisdiction over ambassadors, public ministers, counsul or vice consuls of foreign states, controversies between the US and a state, and between a state and a citizen of another state or a State against an alien. Supreme court jurisdiction is very limited.

Answer 3

See Article III of the Constitution.

"In all cases affecting ambassadors, other public ministers and consuls, and those in which a state shall be party, the Supreme Court shall have original jurisdiction. In all the other cases before mentioned, the Supreme Court shall have appellate jurisdiction...."

So, for the types of cases listed, the suit can filed directly with the Supreme Court. Any other suit must be filed with the appropriate lower court, as defined by federal law.

Answer 4

The lower courts have original jurisdiction for their bodies of law, whether they be the federal or state statutes. The Supreme Court only has original jurisdiction over certain constitutional matters or suits between states.