WorldQuest Law

United States' Federal Court Structure:

The federal court system of the United States consists of 2 levels with the Supreme Court of the United States being the highest court. Over the years, various courts have been created, dissolved or absorbed into other courts. The Supreme Court is the only indispensible court, under the Constitution, but even its rules and the number of its justices have varied throughout U.S. history.

Under the Supreme Court are the 13 United States Courts of Appeals and the Court of Military Appeals. The U.S. Courts of Appeals cover regional areas and include one court for the District of Columbia and the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.

On the next lower level are 94 U.S. district and specialized courts, inluding the Court of Federal Claims, the Court of International Trade, the Tax Court, and the Court of Veterans Appeals.

Cases reach each of the federal courts from lower courts as each level is the place for appeal from lower courts. Cases may also have originated in a state court or federal agency. Some cases, such as those that involve disputes between two states or those in some of the specialized courts originate at the federal level. Theoretically, a person involved in a suit may appeal his case all the way through the Supreme Court: In practice, however, the Supreme Court only accepts a few cases (about 150) for full review out of the 5,000 or so that are submitted to it each term. Those selected for full review are of great national importance or involve serious constitutional concerns. A very few fall into the Supreme Court's limited capacity as a court of original jurisdiction. In practice, most cases do not proceed beyond the level of a Federal Circuit Court of Appeals.

Judicial officers of most of the courts are called judges. Those of the Supreme Court are known as justices. Nearly 15 percent of the federal courts' caseload is handled by senior judges who are at least 65 years of age and have served as active judges for a minimum of 15 years.

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