1. Inferior Courts Notes
Judicial branch

2. Inferior Courts

3. District Courts

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. Court of Appeals

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

9. 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

10. 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

11. Other Constitutional Courts

12. 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

13. 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

15. Special Courts

16. 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

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

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

19. 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

20. 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

21. 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

22. 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