Understanding the Federal Court System: A Comprehensive Look

The Federal Judiciary System

Three Levels of Federal Courts

Level One: District Courts

District Courts are trial courts and handle cases related to congressional districts and voting rights.

• Cases: Constitution, laws, and treaties of the U.S.; Admiralty and maritime cases; Diversity jurisdiction (citizens of different states with more than $50,000 at issue).
• Annually, over 367,000 cases (excluding bankruptcy filings) begin at the 94 U.S. District Courts, staffed by 677 judges.
• There are 89 district courts in the 50 states, plus one each in D.C., Guam, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and the Northern Mariana Islands.
• Each state has at least one district court, and no district courts cross state lines. Some states have 2 to 3 districts, with California, New York, and Texas having 4 district courts each.

Level Two: Circuit Courts of Appeal

Circuit Courts of Appeal are bounded by precedent. There are 13 U.S. Courts of Appeal, staffed by 179 judges. Twelve of these have regional jurisdiction or circuit. Judges typically sit in panels of 3.

• Cases: Annually, about 55,000 cases.
• Appealed cases from district courts and the U.S. Tax Court.
• Review rulings of various administrative and regulatory agencies of the national government (FCC, FTC, & National Labor Relations Board).

13^th Appeals Court (National Jurisdiction)

Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit handles appeals in patent cases from District Courts, the Court of International Trade, and the Court of Veterans Appeals. In practice, these courts are often courts of last resort.

Level Three: Supreme Court

The Supreme Court is the court of last resort. The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court is appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate for life (not obliged to the President or Senate afterward).

• Administrative head of the Supreme Court.
• First among equals.
• Constrained by precedent and procedures, yet enjoys considerable latitude.
• Responsible for managing the internal affairs of the Supreme Court.
• Head of the federal judicial system.
• Ceremonial role.

Talented Chief Justices: Dedication & Service

• The Marshall Court (1801-1835) – Judicial Review
• The Warren Court (1953-1969) – Human Rights (Brown v. Board of Education, Miranda v. Arizona, Baker v. Carr)

Cases of the U.S. Supreme Court

At present:

• About 10,000 new cases appear annually on their docket, joining
• About 1,000 cases carried over from the previous term.