Article III of the U.S. Constitution created the Supreme Court and authorized Congress to pass laws establishing a system of lower courts. In the federal court system’s present form, 94 district level trial courts and 13 courts of appeals sit below the Supreme Court.

Facts About the Judiciary Act of 1789 The Judiciary Act of 1789 established the federal court system separate from individual state courts. It was one of the first acts of the First Congress. President George Washington signed it into law on September 24, 1789.

The Judiciary Act of 1789, officially titled “An Act to Establish the Judicial Courts of the United States,” was signed into law by President George Washington on September 24, 1789. Article III of the Constitution established a Supreme Court, but left to Congress the authority to create lower federal courts as needed.

The framers of the U.S. Constitution wanted the federal government to have only limited power. Therefore, they limited the kinds of cases federal courts can decide. Most laws that affect us are passed by state governments, and thus state courts handle most disputes that govern our daily lives.

State courts have broad jurisdiction and can take on individual cases for their state citizens – including robberies, family disputes, etc. Federal courts, on the other hand, have limited jurisdiction and only the cases listed in the Constitution can be specifically heard in federal court.

How A Federal Sentence Can Be Reduced

1. General Mitigation. A federal judge can reduce a sentence if there is an existence of mitigating circumstances.
2. Fast Track. The reduction in sentencing here is based on expeditiously pleading guilty.
3. Duress and Coercion.
4. Criminal History.
5. Diminished Capacity.
6. Aberrant Behavior.
7. Substantial Assistance to the Government.

Upon a motion by the government that the defendant has provided substantial assistance in the investigation or prosecution of another person who has committed an offense, the court may then reduce the sentence, including below a mandatory minimum sentence.

Five years is 1826 days (with the leap year). Minus 430 plus 64 (minus 494). That leaves 1332 days, of which he will serve a minimum of 85%. 85 percent of 1332 is 1072.2 days.

85 = 51 months or 4 years 3 months.

This is more complicated that it sounds but as a general calculation, your prison term can be calculated by multiplying the number of months of incarceration given by 87.4% (0.874). This gives you the approximate time you will be incarcerated.