Explain The Three Levels Of The Federal Court System

There are three levels in the American federal court system. The U.S District Courts, U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, and the U.S. Supreme Court make up the federal court system. The federal courts can only hear cases authorized by the United States Constitution or federal statutes. Federal judges are appointed by the President of the United States and confirmed by the Senate for a life term as look as they maintain good behavior (XXXX).

U.S. District Court- District courts are basic trial courts of the federal justice system and handle both civil and criminal cases (XXXXX). At least one United States District Judge is assigned to a district court. Federal Judges are appointed by the President and must be confirmed by the senate (XXXX). District courts also have trial courts in specific subject areas such as bankruptcy court. Also, some courts have jurisdiction nationally for matters such as United States Tax Court, United States Court of Federal Claims, and United States Court of International Trade (XXXXX).

U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals- Circuit Courts are the first level for an appeal once the District Court has decided a case. There are twelve federal circuit courts which divides the national into

sections of responsivity (XXXXXXX). Because of the size of responsibility, circuit courts have multiple of federal judges. Federal Circuit Courts have jurisdiction nationally over patents (XXXXXXX). Appeals that deal with the United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims and United States Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces are the responsibility of a few of the circuit courts (XXXXX).
U.S.

Supreme Court- The U.S. Supreme Court is the highest court in the judicial system. The Supreme Court consist of nine members, eight associate justices and one chief justice (XXXXX). The Supreme Court has the power to decide appeals on all federal cases and state cases that deal with federal law (XXXX). The Supreme Court does not have to hear an appeal like the circuits courts. A “writ of certiorari” can be filed to request the Supreme Court to hear an appeal (XXX). If Granted, the court will take briefs and conduct oral arguments and if not granted, the lower court’s decision stands (XXXXX). Only one percent of request are heard by the Supreme Court as they focus on cases that affect the country as a whole or when errors were discovered in a court case

(XXXXX).
I live in San Antonio, so in a federal case the federal district court in San Antonio would hear the case as the first level within the process. If an appeal was requested after the district court’s decision, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals would be responsible for hearing the case as they are responsible for Texas, Louisiana, and Mississippi. If a second appeal was requested, the party would file a “writ of certiorari”. The U.S. Supreme court then determines if they will grant the Writ or not.