The Federal Court The Federal Court SystemSystem

A 3-layer cakeA 3-layer cake

The Layers of the Federal Court SystemThe Layers of the Federal Court System

Top Layer – U.S. Supreme CourtThe top layer of the cake is the U.S. Supreme Court which reviews a select number of cases “on certiorari” from the

U.S. Courts of Appeal and the state supreme courts.

Middle Layer – U.S. Courts of AppealIntermediate courts of appeal, the U.S .Courts of Appeal. These are placed in Circuits, there are 12 geographic circuits,

(11 numbered and one for Washington D.C.)

Bottom Layer – U.S. District Courts

This layer is made up of trial courts (the U.S. District Courts). Each state has at least one U.S. District Court, some largerstates have up to 4 U.S. District Courts.

The Bottom LayerThe Bottom Layer

The bottom layer of the federal court system is made up of the trial courts (the The bottom layer of the federal court system is made up of the trial courts (the U.S. District Courts). Each state has at least one U.S. District Court, and U.S. District Courts). Each state has at least one U.S. District Court, and some larger states, such as California and Texas, have up to 4 U.S. District Courts. some larger states, such as California and Texas, have up to 4 U.S. District Courts. For example, Massachusetts has only one U.S. District Court for the entire state, For example, Massachusetts has only one U.S. District Court for the entire state, but California has four U.S. District Courts - one for the Central District of but California has four U.S. District Courts - one for the Central District of California, one for the Eastern District of California, one for the Northern District of California, one for the Eastern District of California, one for the Northern District of California, and one for the Southern District of California. California, and one for the Southern District of California.

The Middle LayerThe Middle Layer The middle layer of the federal court system is made up of the intermediate courts The middle layer of the federal court system is made up of the intermediate courts

of appeal, the U.S. Courts of Appeal. The U.S. Courts of Appeal are placed in of appeal, the U.S. Courts of Appeal. The U.S. Courts of Appeal are placed in circuits, and they hear appeals from the U.S. District Courts (the federal trial circuits, and they hear appeals from the U.S. District Courts (the federal trial courts) in their particular circuit. There are 12 geographic circuits (11 numbered courts) in their particular circuit. There are 12 geographic circuits (11 numbered circuits and one circuit for Washington D.C.) and a Court of Appeals for the Federal circuits and one circuit for Washington D.C.) and a Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, which hears appeals from the specialized federal trial courts such as the Circuit, which hears appeals from the specialized federal trial courts such as the U.S. Court of Federal Claims, which hears claims against the federal U.S. Court of Federal Claims, which hears claims against the federal government, and the U.S. Court of International Trade, the federal trial court that government, and the U.S. Court of International Trade, the federal trial court that hears claims concerning customs. hears claims concerning customs.

To see which federal circuit your state is in, go to: To see which federal circuit your state is in, go to: The Federal Court Locator, and , and then click on the number that corresponds to your state and you will see the U.S. then click on the number that corresponds to your state and you will see the U.S. District Courts in your state. District Courts in your state.

The Top LayerThe Top Layer

The top layer of the federal court system is the U.S. Supreme Court which reviews a The top layer of the federal court system is the U.S. Supreme Court which reviews a select number of cases that present important constitutional issues. The nine select number of cases that present important constitutional issues. The nine Justices of the U.S. Supreme Court meet in conference each week and determine Justices of the U.S. Supreme Court meet in conference each week and determine which "petitions for the writ of certiorari" present cases that are worthy of review. which "petitions for the writ of certiorari" present cases that are worthy of review. If 4 of the nine Justices vote to hear a case (known as the “rule of 4”), then the U.S. If 4 of the nine Justices vote to hear a case (known as the “rule of 4”), then the U.S. Supreme Court will issue a writ of certiorari down to the U.S. Court of Appeals or to Supreme Court will issue a writ of certiorari down to the U.S. Court of Appeals or to the state supreme court that decided the case, ordering that court to certify the the state supreme court that decided the case, ordering that court to certify the transcripts and the records, and send them up to the U.S. Supreme Court for transcripts and the records, and send them up to the U.S. Supreme Court for review. For some more info on the U.S. Supreme Court's review process, see these review. For some more info on the U.S. Supreme Court's review process, see these web sites:web sites:

CertiorariCertiorari Choosing and Hearing CasesChoosing and Hearing Cases Justices of the U.S. Supreme CourtJustices of the U.S. Supreme Court