Structure of the Federal Court System
District Courts
District Courts are the trial courts in which any case ranging from civil to criminal cases are heard by a jury formed of American citizens. There are 94 federal district courts in the United States. Each state has at least one, along with the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and United States territories.
District Courts have original jurisdiction, meaning that the court has the power to hear a case for the first time. They are the only federal courts that hold trials. District Courts hear about 350,000 cases a year.
District Court jurisdiction includes the following:
-Federal crimes
-Civil suits under federal law
-Civil suits between citizens of different states where the amount in question exceeds $75,000
-Supervision of bankruptcy proceedings
-Review of the actions of some federal administrative agencies
-Supervision of the naturalization of aliens
District Courts have original jurisdiction, meaning that the court has the power to hear a case for the first time. They are the only federal courts that hold trials. District Courts hear about 350,000 cases a year.
District Court jurisdiction includes the following:
-Federal crimes
-Civil suits under federal law
-Civil suits between citizens of different states where the amount in question exceeds $75,000
-Supervision of bankruptcy proceedings
-Review of the actions of some federal administrative agencies
-Supervision of the naturalization of aliens
Appeals Courts
Appeals Courts hear appeals from the District Courts. There are 12 Courts of Appeal in the United States. Courts of appeal also have authority to review and enforce orders of many federal regulatory agencies.
Appellate Jurisdiction is jurisdiction of courts that hear cases brought to them on appeal from the lower courts. About 75% of the more than 61,000 cases filed in the courts of appeal come from the district courts. The courts of appeal focus on correcting errors of procedure and law that occurred in the original proceedings of a legal case.
Appellate Jurisdiction is jurisdiction of courts that hear cases brought to them on appeal from the lower courts. About 75% of the more than 61,000 cases filed in the courts of appeal come from the district courts. The courts of appeal focus on correcting errors of procedure and law that occurred in the original proceedings of a legal case.
Supreme Court
The Supreme Court consists of 9 justices. There are 8 Associate Justices and 1 Chief Justice. The Supreme Court hears cases to resolve conflicts among states, interpreting nation laws and maintain national supremacy in the law. Nominations to the Court may be a president's most important legacy to the nation. Supreme Court Justices are chosen based off their political philosophy, chances of being approved, and their age, race, gender, and religion.
The Supreme Court decides which cases to hear. They hear less than 1% of all cases. 4 out of 9 justices must agree to hear a case. They often pick cases based on three factors: 1) When two lower courts have conflicting opinions, 2) If a ruling conflicts with a previous Supreme Court ruling, and 3) If the issue has historical significance.
The courts must rely on other units of government to enforce their decision.
The current Chief Justice is John Roberts. The current associate justices are Samuel Alito, Stephen Breyer, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Elena Kagen, Anthony Kennedy, Antonin Scalia, Sonia Sotomayor, and Clarence Thomas.
The Supreme Court decides which cases to hear. They hear less than 1% of all cases. 4 out of 9 justices must agree to hear a case. They often pick cases based on three factors: 1) When two lower courts have conflicting opinions, 2) If a ruling conflicts with a previous Supreme Court ruling, and 3) If the issue has historical significance.
The courts must rely on other units of government to enforce their decision.
The current Chief Justice is John Roberts. The current associate justices are Samuel Alito, Stephen Breyer, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Elena Kagen, Anthony Kennedy, Antonin Scalia, Sonia Sotomayor, and Clarence Thomas.