Federal Court System

Supreme Court of the United States

Highest court in the federal judiciary. Nine Justices (one Chief Justice, eight Associates), appointed for life. Final authority on federal constitutional and statutory questions. Est. Article III, U.S. Constitution.

U.S. Courts of Appeals (Circuit Courts)

Thirteen intermediate appellate courts: twelve regional circuits (1st-11th, D.C.) plus the Federal Circuit (patent, trade, and claims cases). Reviews decisions of U.S. District Courts.

U.S. District Courts

94 federal trial courts across the 50 states, D.C., and territories. Courts of original jurisdiction for most federal civil and criminal cases.

Specialized Federal Courts

• U.S. Court of International Trade - customs and trade cases
• U.S. Court of Federal Claims - monetary claims against the federal government
• U.S. Tax Court - federal tax disputes
• U.S. Bankruptcy Courts - one per district; adjuncts to district courts

Key Sources

• 28 U.S.C. §§ 1 et seq. (judiciary and judicial procedure)
• U.S. Const. Art. III

Source: Office of the United States Courts - Public Domain