Pearson Education, Inc., Longman © 2008

The Federal Court System

94 District Courts

District Courts (94 federal courts)

Original Jurisdiction: courts that hear the case first and determine the facts - the trial court

Deals with the following types of cases: Federal crimes Civil suits under federal law and across state lines Supervise bankruptcy and naturalization Review some federal agencies Admiralty and maritime law cases

Pearson Education, Inc., Longman © 2008

District Courts

94 District Courts

U.S. Tax Court

U.S. Court of

International Trade

U.S. Court of Federal

Claims

U.S. Court of Veteran

Appeals

Special Courts

Special Courts

Special Courts Courts that handle specific types of cases Ex. U.S. Tax Court deals with cases concerning

tax violations

94 District Courts

U.S. Tax Court

U.S. Court of

International Trade

U.S. Court of Federal

Claims

U.S. Court of Veteran

Appeals

United States Court of Appeals

(12 Circuits)

United States Court of Appeals for the Federal

Circuit

Special Courts

Courts of Appeal

13 circuit courts Appellate Jurisdiction: reviews the legal issues

in cases brought from lower courts Hold no trials and hear no testimony

Focus on errors of procedure and law

Pearson Education, Inc., Longman © 2008

Courts of Appeal

94 District Courts

U.S. Tax Court

U.S. Court of

International Trade

U.S. Court of Federal

Claims

U.S. Court of Veteran

Appeals

United States Court of Appeals

(12 Circuits)

United States Court of Appeals for the Federal

Circuit

Supreme Court

Special Courts

The Supreme Court

Ensures uniformity in interpreting national laws

resolves conflicts among states maintains national supremacy in law

Pearson Education, Inc., Longman © 2008

Supreme Court

Pearson Education, Inc., Longman © 2008

District Courts and Court of Appeals Map

DC

CA