Federal Court System Overview

The federal court system consists of federal trial courts and two levels of federal appellate courts--courts of appeals and the Supreme Court of the United States.

Lowest Level

There are 94 U.S. judicial districts in the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands. United States District Courts have authority or jurisdiction to hear civil and criminal cases involving the United States Constitution or a federal law (federal question jurisdiction). They can also settle disputes between citizens of different states or between United States citizens and citizens of another country (diversity jurisdiction). The federal district courts hear all bankruptcy cases.

Appellate Level

There are 13 judicial circuits, each having a court of appeals. The United States Courts of Appeals review the decisions of the federal district courts and the decisions of certain federal administrative agencies. The courts of appeals decide narrow questions of constitutional law or federal law and procedure.

Highest Level

The Supreme Court of United States reviews the decisions of all federal courts. The cases generally involve important questions about the United States Constitution or federal law. A decision of the Supreme Court is final and binding on all lower courts, state and federal.

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