1. CH. 18-2 THE INFERIOR COURTS
AMERICAN GOVERNMENT

2. THE DISTRICT COURTS US District courts are the federal trial courts
677 judges handle more than 300,000 cases per year (80% of the federal case load)
These courts created by the Judiciary Act of There are currently 94 (96) districts
FEDERAL JUDICIAL DISTRICTS
50 states are divided into 89 judicial districts
Also districts in Washington, DC, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands
Most cases heard by a single judge but sometimes there is a 3-judge panel

3. DISTRICT COURT JURISDICTION
Original jurisdiction over most cases except those that start in the Supreme Court or the US Court for International Trade
Criminal or civil cases
Criminal—a defendant is tried for committing some crime as stated in federal law
Civil—involves noncriminal matters such as patent infringement or contract issues
Most district court decisions are final. Some rulings may be appealed to a different court.

4. THE COURT OF APPEALS Created by Congress in 1891
Established as “gatekeepers” to relieve the Supreme Court of much of the burden of hearing appeals from district courts
DOCKET—list of cases to be heard by a court
12 judicial circuits
APPELLATE COURT JUDGES
179 circuit judges
Each Supreme Court Justice is assigned to a circuit as well

5. APPELLATE COURT JURISDICTION
These courts hear only cases on appeal from district courts within their circuit
They also hear cases from other agencies such as Federal Trade Commission, etc.
70,000 cases or more annually

6. OTHER CONSTITUTIONAL COURTS
THE COURT OF INTERNATIONAL TRADE
Created in 1890
9 judges
Hears civil cases related to tariffs, trade, etc.
THE COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE FEDERAL CIRCUIT
Created in 1982
Established to speed up handling of appeals in certain types of civil cases
Hears appeals from several types of courts
THE END