This module was developed by the Federal Judicial Center to support judges and court staff who want to speak to various groups about the history of an independent federal judiciary in the United States. This module focuses on the establishment of the federal judiciary and the history of the federal court system. Other modules in this series examine the constitutional origins of the judicial branch of government and historical debates on judicial independence. Each module includes four components: an historical overview to serve as talking points; a PowerPoint presentation that can be downloaded to provide a visual guide to the speaker's remarks; a list of suggested discussion questions; and selections from historical documents that can be used in discussion with the audience or incorporated in the speaker's remarks.

Talking Points
Suggested Discussion Questions
Historical Documents
Bibliography
Print or download full text [pdf]
View or save Power Point Presentation [ppt]

Other Modules:
Constitutional Origins of the Federal Judiciary
Judicial Independence