The Justice System
Federal Government
Different levels of Federal Court Systems
There are 3 types of federal courts; this includes:
The Supreme court: The highest court established by the Constitution.
Court of Appeals: There are a total of 13 circuits in our country.
District Courts: The lowest court and has 94 districts spread across the U.S.
Types of Jurisdiction
Exclusive Jurisdiction: Forum in which an action may be heard
Concurrent Jurisdiction: Overlap of two or more courts over the same cause of action
Original Jurisdiction: Authority to hear a case for the first time
Appellate Jurisdiction: Power to review a case based on a lower court decision
Responsibilities at each level of Federal Court System
The Supreme Court: Mostly involve in answering important questions about the Constitution or federal law. Major cases are sent here because it is above all other courts of the U.S.
Appellate Court: Hear appeals in specialized cases, such as those involving patent laws.
District Courts: Jurisdiction to hear nearly all categories of federal cases, including both civil and criminal matters.