1. How Federal Courts Are Organized

2. Organization of the System
Supreme Court
Court of
Appeals
District Court

3. U.S. District Courts
District courts are the federal courts where trials are held and lawsuits are begun.
All states have at least one.

4. Original Jurisdiction
For all federal cases, district courts have original jurisdiction, the authority to hear the case for the first time.
District courts hear both civil and criminal cases.
District courts are the only federal courts that involve witnesses and juries.

5. U.S. Courts of Appeals
People who lose in a district court often appeal to the next highest level—a U.S. court of appeals.
Appeals courts review decisions made in lower district courts.
This is appellate jurisdiction—the authority to hear a case appealed from a lower court.

6. Circuit Courts
Each of the 11 U.S. courts of appeals covers a particular geographic area called a circuit.
A twelfth appeals court, the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, has nationwide jurisdiction.

7. Appeals Court Continue
Appeals courts do not hold trials. Instead, a panel of judges reviews the case records and listens to arguments from lawyers on both sides.

8. Making a Decision The judges may decide in one of three ways:
1. Uphold the Original Decision
2. Reverse the Decision
3. Remand the Case—send it back to the lower court to be tried again.

9. U.S. Supreme Court A few cases are appealed to the Supreme Court.
10,000 cases go to the Supreme Court but they only hear cases a year
These cases will have the greatest impact on the people

10. Announcing the Decision
One appellate judge writes an opinion – explains the legal thinking behind the court’s decision in the case.
The opinion sets a precedent – model for other judges to follow in making their own decisions on similar cases.

11. Federal Judges 9 Justices 6-27 Judges At Least 2 Judges
Each district court has at least 2 judges.
Each appeals court has 6 to judges.
The Supreme Court has justices.
9 Justices
6-27 Judges
At Least 2 Judges

12. Judicial Appointments
Presidents appoints federal judges
Senate approves
They usually appoint judges who share their views.
Because judges serve for life, presidents view their appointments as an opportunity to affect the country after they leave office.
Once appointed, a judge can be removed only through impeachment.
Judge for Life

13. Magistrate Judges
Each district court has magistrate judges who do much of the judge’s routine work.
They hear preliminary evidence and determine whether the case should go to trial.
They decide whether accused people should be held in jail or released on bail.

14. U.S. Attorneys
Every federal judicial district also has a U.S attorney—a government lawyer who prosecutes people accused of breaking federal laws.
U.S. attorneys look into the charges and present the evidence in court.
They also represent the United States in civil cases involving the government.

15. U.S. Marshal Every federal judicial district also has a U.S. marshal.
Marshals make arrests, collect fines, and take convicted people to prison.
They protect jurors, keep order in the court, and serve subpoenas ordering people to appear in court.