The Three-Tiered Structure of the Federal Court System
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What are the three main levels of the federal court system, from lowest to highest?
1. U.S. District Courts
2. U.S. Circuit Courts of Appeals
3. The Supreme Court of the United States
What is the role of the U.S. District Courts?
They are the trial courts of the federal system. This is where cases are initially heard, evidence is presented, and decisions are made by a judge and/or jury.
How many U.S. District Courts are there?
There are 94 federal judicial districts, with at least one in each state, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico.
What is the primary function of the U.S. Courts of Appeals (Circuit Courts)?
They review the procedures and the decisions of the trial court (District Court) to ensure that the proceedings were fair and that the law was applied correctly.
Do the Courts of Appeals hold new trials?
No. They do not hear new evidence or call witnesses. A panel of judges simply reviews the written record from the trial court and the legal arguments from each party.
How many federal judicial circuits (Courts of Appeals) are there?
There are 13 U.S. Courts of Appeals. 11 are numbered and cover different geographic regions, one is for the District of Columbia, and one is the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.
Define "original jurisdiction".
The authority of a court to hear a case for the first time, as opposed to appellate jurisdiction.
Define "appellate jurisdiction".
The authority of a court to review decisions made by lower courts.
Which federal courts primarily exercise original jurisdiction?
The U.S. District Courts have original jurisdiction over most federal cases.
Which federal courts primarily exercise appellate jurisdiction?
The U.S. Courts of Appeals (Circuit Courts) have appellate jurisdiction. The Supreme Court also acts primarily as an appellate court.
In what specific and limited instances does the Supreme Court have original jurisdiction?
The Supreme Court has original jurisdiction in cases involving disputes between states and in cases involving ambassadors and other high-ranking public ministers.
