U.S. Federal Court System

This article provides an overview of how federal courts operate. It describes the different court structures and their roles, starting with the federal district court, the Court of Appeals, and the Supreme Court. 

If you are involved with the federal court system, contact a litigation and appeals attorney to safeguard your interests and protect your rights.

Functions of the Branches of the U.S. Government

The U.S. government has three branches, which include:

• The legislative branch: The U.S. Congress, which includes the U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives, enacts federal laws.
• The executive branch: Headed by the President of the United States, this branch enforces these laws.
• The judicial branch: The court system looks into the constitutionality of these laws and resolves controversies relating to their applications.

Each of these branches works apart from the others. Each branch is also divided into multiple levels of government. This article will focus on the judicial branch and levels of the court structure.

The Structure of the Federal Court System

The U.S. federal court system has multiple levels, from the District Courts to the Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court. Each of these judicial systems has its roles and functions, which are detailed below:

District Courts

United States District courts are where most cases stemming from federal statutes begin. District courts serve as the general trial courts in the federal court system. Across the United States, there are 94 federal judicial districts.

Each of these districts has its own U.S. District Courts that handle broad types of cases, including both civil cases and criminal cases. Every district also has a bankruptcy court that works as a unit of the district court. Depending on the size of the state, there may be multiple district courts or just one for the whole state.

Court of Appeals

Congress established 13 federal appellate courts, known as the United States Court of Appeals. The 94 federal judicial districts are grouped into 12 regional circuits, including the District of Columbia circuit courts. Each of these groups has a U.S. Court of Appeals. 

The court of appeals reviews decisions of the lower courts within their geographic boundary. For instance, if a party loses their case in a federal district court, they can file an appeal with a federal court of appeals. 

The court of appeals will review if the procedures and the legal proceedings are fair. It also looks at the proper application of court rules and laws. In addition, there is one Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.

This court has jurisdiction to hear all types of appeals in specialized cases nationwide. This includes cases related to patent laws and those decided by the U.S. Court of Federal Claims and the U.S. Court of International Trade.

Supreme Court

At the top of the federal court system is the Supreme Court of the United States. Article III of the U.S. Constitution established the federal judiciary. It states that there is only one supreme court at the federal level, which is the country’s highest court. Currently, the Supreme Court has eight associate justices and one chief justice of the United States.

The Supreme Court has original jurisdiction over certain cases. For example, it can decide cases involving ambassadors or suits between different states. The U.S. Supreme Court has appellate jurisdiction on other cases involving constitutional or federal law issues.

Article I Courts

Article I Courts are created by the legislature to help support the laws they have written. These courts include:

• Courts in U.S. territories (such as the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, and Guam): Since these places are not part of the U.S., they are not governed by the Constitution. However, they are under Congress’s control, so Congress created a set of courts to handle their affairs.
• Specialized courts (such as United States tax courts and bankruptcy courts): These are courts created by Congress specifically to hear cases about the bankruptcy or tax code.

Article I and Article III courts are subject to very different rules. Article III provides constitutional protections to judges. Article III judges are generally appointed by the president and serve for life.

In contrast, Article I judges are hired and fired according to the way Congress designed the courts. Sometimes they are appointed by a member of Congress, or voted onto the bench by Congressional Committee. Judges will then serve for a period of years, at which point they must be rehired before continuing for another term.

What Is the Supremacy Clause?

Article VI of the U.S. Constitution contains the supremacy clause. This clause establishes that federal law is the supreme law of the land. The impact on the state court system is that judges in every state must follow the U.S. Constitution and federal laws over state laws.

For example, if the federal government enacts a law that preserves and protects Native American tribes and their land in the United States, and a state passes a law that land owned by Native Americans is now state property, the federal law would preempt the state law under the supremacy clause.

How a Lawsuit Progresses in Federal Court

You may have a claim or dispute that fits federal court better than a state court. You’ll want to know how your case might progress through the federal judicial system.

While each case varies, below is a simple overview of the federal litigation process:

1. The plaintiff files an initial complaint with the district court that has jurisdiction over the subject matter or the parties to the case.
2. A federal judge or jury hears the case, and the district court issues its decision.
3. The losing party files an appeal in the federal court of appeals within the same circuit as the district court that originally heard the case. This intermediate appellate court reviews the case.
4. If the party still has grounds for a further appeal, they may submit their case to the Supreme Court clerk’s office to be considered for the highest level of review.
5. If the Supreme Court selects the case, it will review briefs and hear oral arguments from each party. The Court will issue a final opinion.

Most federal cases do not reach the final stage of Supreme Court review. The Supreme Court generally chooses to hear cases that involve a federal question of law and could affect similar cases around the country. Many lawsuits end in a verdict or settlement at the lower levels. It’s even possible that a lawsuit may be dismissed before it goes to trial in the district court.

Get Legal Advocacy in Federal Court

The complexities of federal laws and legal structure can be overwhelming. When facing these challenges, the legal advice of litigation and appeals lawyers can help. A legal professional can clairfy the legal process and advocate on your behalf.