The Federal Court System
(How It Works)
Courts
There are a couple different types of courts in The Federal Court System
- District Courts- where it all begins
If your case moves further up in the system, it goes to the appeals court
- Appeals court- decisions made by district court are reviewed here(does not
hold trials)
There is also a circuit court
- Circuit Court-movable courts where judge holds court sessions in different locations
Court Decisions Can Go In Reverse
When your case is sent back to the lower court (district court), it is called a remand
The court would remand a case when it needs to be tried again
The Actions of Appeals Courts
When an appeals court makes a decision, it is almost always final
To make the decision, one appellate judge makes an opinion
- Opinion- explains the legal thinking of the decision
A precedent is then set from the opinion made
- Precedent- an example for the other judges to follow when making their own Precedent- an example for the other judges to follow when making their decisions
Amount of Federal Judges
- District Court-at least 2
- Appeals Court- 6 to 27
- Supreme Court- 9
More On Judges
Judges serve life terms
- Life Terms- once they become a judge, they are one for the rest of their life
- Magistrate judge- decides whether accused should be held in jail are released
US Attorneys and Marshalls
US Attorney- present evidence in court and represents US in civil cases involving government
US Marshall- make arrest, collect fines, and take convicted people to prison
Jurisdictions
Original- court provides first hearing of specific cases
Appellate- power to review decisions and change lower court outcomes