U.S. Court System Notes

Overview of United States Court Systems
  • Federal vs. State Courts
    • Unique blend of federal and state court systems.
    • Separate entities that collaborate to form case law for attorneys and paralegals.
Federal Court System
  1. Types of Federal Courts
    • Three main levels:
      • Federal District Courts
      • Federal Circuit Courts (Appellate Jurisdiction)
      • United States Supreme Court
1. Federal District Courts
  • Role: Trial courts at the federal level.
  • Geographical Presence: Located throughout the country, including Washington DC and US territories.
  • Casework: Handles the majority of federal litigation, initiating nearly all federal lawsuit proceedings.
  • Specialized Courts:
    • Cases may also start in specialized courts with original jurisdiction:
    • U.S. Court of International Trade
    • U.S. Tax Court
    • U.S. Bankruptcy Court
    • Original Jurisdiction Examples:
    • Supreme Court has original jurisdiction for cases involving ambassadors, consuls, public ministers, and states as parties.
2. Federal Circuit Courts
  • Function: Courts of appellate jurisdiction.
  • Structure: 13 circuits (regions); circuits 1-11 are numbered and regionally arranged.
    • Notable circuits include the DC Circuit and Federal Circuit (both based in Washington, DC).
  • Appeals Process:
    • Initial appeals from District Courts are heard here.
    • Example: A case from Northern District of Illinois appeals to the Seventh Circuit.
3. United States Supreme Court
  • Description: The highest court in the U.S.; court of last resort.
  • Review Process:
    • Provides final review for cases from the U.S. Courts of Appeals.
    • May also review decisions from state supreme courts if issues of federal or constitutional law arise.
  • Case Selection:
    • Chooses specific cases to hear, often based on:
    • Controversial issues.
    • Need to reconcile conflicting circuit court decisions.
  • Mandatory Cases: Limited to a narrow category that must be heard.
State Court System
  • Typically mirrors the federal system:
    • Courts of original jurisdiction
    • Appellate courts
    • Courts of last resort