Inferior Courts Notes Judicial branch

Inferior Courts

District Courts

Federal Judicial Districts 50 states and territories divided into 94 federal districts At least two judges are assigned to each district Cases tried in district courts are often heard by a single judge

District Court Jurisdiction Original jurisdiction over most cases that are heard in federal court Hear a wide range of civil and criminal cases Most decisions are final, but some are appealed to he Court of Appeals or to Supreme Court

Non-criminal matters like contract disputes or copyright infringement Civil case Criminal case Non-criminal matters like contract disputes or copyright infringement Hear cases that arise from laws of the US Defendant is tried for committing an action that Congress has declared by law to be a federal crime Range from bank robbery to tax evasion

Court of Appeals

Created by Congress in 1891 to relieve backlog in Supreme Court for hearing appeals 12 appeal judicial circuits with one court for each

Appellate Court Judge 179 circuit judges sit on appellate courts Circuits usually span multiple states and sessions are held in multiple cities within the circuit Most consist of a panel of 3 judges

Appellate Court Jurisdiction Only have appellate jurisdiction Hear cases on appeal from lower courts Most appeals come from district courts within the same circuit Also hear appeals from decisions of several regulatory agencies Handles more than 55,000 cases a year Decision is final unless Supreme Court chooses to hear appeals taken from them

Other Constitutional Courts

Court of International Trade Established in 1890 9 judges, 1 of whom is chief judge Hears civil cases arising out of tariff and trade-related law Judges are in a panel of 3 and hold trials in major port cities like New Orleans, Boston, New York Appeals are taken to the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit

Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit Created in 1982 12 judges with a panel of 3 or more Most cases are heard in Washington DC Appeals can be taken to Supreme Court (but is rare) Hears civil cases from all districts, therefore has nationwide jurisdiction Many cases come from US Court of International Trade US Court of Federal Claims US Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims Patent, copyright, trademark cases

Special Courts

Court of Federal Claims Government can only be sued in instances deemed open to suit by Congress 16 judges appointed by POTUS and approved by Senate for 15-year terms Hold trials throughout country hearing claims for damages against the Federal Government Claims that are upheld cannot be paid until Congress appropriates the money

Territorial Courts Located in: Virgin Islands Guam Northern Marianas Islands Function like local courts in the 50 states

District of Columbia Courts District Court and Court of Appeals for DC hear local cases as well as those tried in constitutional courts

Court of Appeals for Armed Forces Military courts (court martial) serve disciplinary needs of military and are NOT part of federal court system All personnel are military Conduct trials for those accused of violating military law (Universal Code of Military Justice) Civilian tribunal of 5 judges appointed by POTUS and confirmed by Senate for 15- year term that reviews serious court martial offenses

Military Commissions Department of Defense created these commissions to try “enemy combatants” including suspected terrorists Most are presently held in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba Created by Executive Order from President George W. Bush in 2003

Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims Created in 1988 Chief judge and 6 associate judges appointed by POTUS and approved by Senate for 15-year terms Hears appeals from the Board of Veterans Appeals in the Department of Veterans Affairs Mainly misuse or denial of veteran benefits and claims

United States Tax Court Created in 1969 as an independent part of the legislative branch, therefore NOT part of federal judicial system 19 judges named by POTUS and Senate for 15-year terms Hears civil cases involving disputes over application of tax laws Most cases generated by IRS and Treasury Department agencies