Courts of the United States
Encyclopedia
Courts of the United States include both the United States federal courts
, comprising the judicial branch of the federal government of the United States
(operating under the authority of the United States Constitution
and federal law
) and state and territorial courts of the individual U.S. state
s and territories
(operating under the authority of the state and territorial constitutions
and state and territorial law
)
In federal legislation, regulations governing the "courts of the United States" only refer to the courts of the United States government, and not the courts of the individual states. Because of the federalist underpinnings of the division between federal and state governments, the various state court systems are free to operate in ways that vary widely from those of the federal government, and from one another. In practice, however, every state has adopted a division of its judiciary into at least two levels, and almost every state has three levels, with trial court
s hearing cases which may be reviewed by appellate court
s, and finally by a state supreme court
. A few states have two separate supreme courts, with one having authority over civil matters and the other reviewing criminal cases. State courts may have different names and organization; trial courts may be called "courts of common plea" and appellate courts "superior courts" or "commonwealth courts". State courts hear about 98% of litigation; most states have special jurisdiction courts, which typically handle minor disputes such as traffic citations, and general jurisdiction courts which handle more serious disputes.
The U.S. federal court system
hears cases involving litigants from two or more states, violations of federal laws, treaties, and the Constitution, admiralty
, bankruptcy
, and related issues. In practice, about 80% of the cases are civil and 20% criminal. The civil cases often involve civil rights, patents, and Social Security while the criminal cases involve tax fraud, robbery, counterfeiting, and drug crimes. The trial courts are U.S. district courts
, followed by United States courts of appeals
and then the Supreme Court of the United States
. The judicial system, whether state or federal, begins with a court of first instance, whose work may be reviewed by an appellate court, and then ends at the court of last resort, which may review the work of the lower courts..
Institutions which may be considered courts of the United States are listed below.
----
Federal courts located in the District of Columbia
Former federal courts in the District of Columbia
----
Federal courts located in Puerto Rico:
, the U.S. judicial system is often portrayed in American literature and films.
Several Hollywood films such as A Few Good Men
(1992) and Runaway Jury
(2003) are set around its courts.
United States federal courts
The United States federal courts make up the judiciary branch of federal government of the United States organized under the United States Constitution and laws of the federal government.-Categories:...
, comprising the judicial branch of the federal government of the United States
Federal government of the United States
The federal government of the United States is the national government of the constitutional republic of fifty states that is the United States of America. The federal government comprises three distinct branches of government: a legislative, an executive and a judiciary. These branches and...
(operating under the authority of the United States Constitution
United States Constitution
The Constitution of the United States is the supreme law of the United States of America. It is the framework for the organization of the United States government and for the relationship of the federal government with the states, citizens, and all people within the United States.The first three...
and federal law
Federal law
Federal law is the body of law created by the federal government of a country. A federal government is formed when a group of political units, such as states or provinces join together in a federation, surrendering their individual sovereignty and many powers to the central government while...
) and state and territorial courts of the individual U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
s and territories
United States territory
United States territory is any extent of region under the jurisdiction of the federal government of the United States, including all waters including all U.S. Naval carriers. The United States has traditionally proclaimed the sovereign rights for exploring, exploiting, conserving, and managing its...
(operating under the authority of the state and territorial constitutions
State constitution (United States)
In the United States, each state has its own constitution.Usually, they are longer than the 7,500-word federal Constitution and are more detailed regarding the day-to-day relationships between government and the people. The shortest is the Constitution of Vermont, adopted in 1793 and currently...
and state and territorial law
State law
In the United States, state law is the law of each separate U.S. state, as passed by the state legislature and adjudicated by state courts. It exists in parallel, and sometimes in conflict with, United States federal law. These disputes are often resolved by the federal courts.-See also:*List of U.S...
)
In federal legislation, regulations governing the "courts of the United States" only refer to the courts of the United States government, and not the courts of the individual states. Because of the federalist underpinnings of the division between federal and state governments, the various state court systems are free to operate in ways that vary widely from those of the federal government, and from one another. In practice, however, every state has adopted a division of its judiciary into at least two levels, and almost every state has three levels, with trial court
Trial court
A trial court or court of first instance is a court in which trials take place. Such courts are said to have original jurisdiction.- In the United States :...
s hearing cases which may be reviewed by appellate court
Appellate court
An appellate court, commonly called an appeals court or court of appeals or appeal court , is any court of law that is empowered to hear an appeal of a trial court or other lower tribunal...
s, and finally by a state supreme court
State supreme court
In the United States, the state supreme court is the highest state court in the state court system ....
. A few states have two separate supreme courts, with one having authority over civil matters and the other reviewing criminal cases. State courts may have different names and organization; trial courts may be called "courts of common plea" and appellate courts "superior courts" or "commonwealth courts". State courts hear about 98% of litigation; most states have special jurisdiction courts, which typically handle minor disputes such as traffic citations, and general jurisdiction courts which handle more serious disputes.
The U.S. federal court system
United States federal courts
The United States federal courts make up the judiciary branch of federal government of the United States organized under the United States Constitution and laws of the federal government.-Categories:...
hears cases involving litigants from two or more states, violations of federal laws, treaties, and the Constitution, admiralty
Admiralty law
Admiralty law is a distinct body of law which governs maritime questions and offenses. It is a body of both domestic law governing maritime activities, and private international law governing the relationships between private entities which operate vessels on the oceans...
, bankruptcy
Bankruptcy
Bankruptcy is a legal status of an insolvent person or an organisation, that is, one that cannot repay the debts owed to creditors. In most jurisdictions bankruptcy is imposed by a court order, often initiated by the debtor....
, and related issues. In practice, about 80% of the cases are civil and 20% criminal. The civil cases often involve civil rights, patents, and Social Security while the criminal cases involve tax fraud, robbery, counterfeiting, and drug crimes. The trial courts are U.S. district courts
United States district court
The United States district courts are the general trial courts of the United States federal court system. Both civil and criminal cases are filed in the district court, which is a court of law, equity, and admiralty. There is a United States bankruptcy court associated with each United States...
, followed by United States courts of appeals
United States courts of appeals
The United States courts of appeals are the intermediate appellate courts of the United States federal court system...
and then the Supreme Court of the United States
Supreme Court of the United States
The Supreme Court of the United States is the highest court in the United States. It has ultimate appellate jurisdiction over all state and federal courts, and original jurisdiction over a small range of cases...
. The judicial system, whether state or federal, begins with a court of first instance, whose work may be reviewed by an appellate court, and then ends at the court of last resort, which may review the work of the lower courts..
Institutions which may be considered courts of the United States are listed below.
United States federal courts
Geographic based jurisdiction
- Trial Courts:
- United States district courtUnited States district courtThe United States district courts are the general trial courts of the United States federal court system. Both civil and criminal cases are filed in the district court, which is a court of law, equity, and admiralty. There is a United States bankruptcy court associated with each United States...
s (94 courts, listed by state below)
- United States district court
- Appellate Courts:
- United States courts of appealsUnited States courts of appealsThe United States courts of appeals are the intermediate appellate courts of the United States federal court system...
- United States Court of Appeals for the First CircuitUnited States Court of Appeals for the First CircuitThe United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit is a federal court with appellate jurisdiction over the district courts in the following districts:* District of Maine* District of Massachusetts...
- United States Court of Appeals for the Second CircuitUnited States Court of Appeals for the Second CircuitThe United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit is one of the thirteen United States Courts of Appeals...
- United States Court of Appeals for the Third CircuitUnited States Court of Appeals for the Third CircuitThe United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit is a federal court with appellate jurisdiction over the district courts for the following districts:* District of Delaware* District of New Jersey...
- United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth CircuitUnited States Court of Appeals for the Fourth CircuitThe United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit is a federal court located in Richmond, Virginia, with appellate jurisdiction over the district courts in the following districts:*District of Maryland*Eastern District of North Carolina...
- United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth CircuitUnited States Court of Appeals for the Fifth CircuitThe United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit is a federal court with appellate jurisdiction over the district courts in the following districts:* Eastern District of Louisiana* Middle District of Louisiana...
- United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth CircuitUnited States Court of Appeals for the Sixth CircuitThe United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit is a federal court with appellate jurisdiction over the district courts in the following districts:* Eastern District of Kentucky* Western District of Kentucky...
- United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh CircuitUnited States Court of Appeals for the Seventh CircuitThe United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit is a federal court with appellate jurisdiction over the courts in the following districts:* Central District of Illinois* Northern District of Illinois...
- United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth CircuitUnited States Court of Appeals for the Eighth CircuitThe United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit is a federal court with appellate jurisdiction over the district courts in the following districts:* Eastern District of Arkansas* Western District of Arkansas...
- United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth CircuitUnited States Court of Appeals for the Ninth CircuitThe United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit is a U.S. federal court with appellate jurisdiction over the district courts in the following districts:* District of Alaska* District of Arizona...
- United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth CircuitUnited States Court of Appeals for the Tenth CircuitThe United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit is a federal court with appellate jurisdiction over the district courts in the following districts:* District of Colorado* District of Kansas...
- United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh CircuitUnited States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh CircuitThe United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit is a federal court with appellate jurisdiction over the district courts in the following districts:* Middle District of Alabama...
- United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia CircuitUnited States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia CircuitThe United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit known informally as the D.C. Circuit, is the federal appellate court for the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. Appeals from the D.C. Circuit, as with all the U.S. Courts of Appeals, are heard on a...
- United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit
- Court of last resort:
- Supreme Court of the United StatesSupreme Court of the United StatesThe Supreme Court of the United States is the highest court in the United States. It has ultimate appellate jurisdiction over all state and federal courts, and original jurisdiction over a small range of cases...
- Supreme Court of the United States
Specific subject-matter jurisdiction
- United States federal courts with Original Jurisdiction over specific subject matter:
-
- United States Tax CourtUnited States Tax CourtThe United States Tax Court is a federal trial court of record established by Congress under Article I of the U.S. Constitution, section 8 of which provides that the Congress has the power to "constitute Tribunals inferior to the supreme Court"...
- United States Court of International TradeUnited States Court of International TradeThe United States Court of International Trade is an Article III court, with full powers in law and equity. The Customs Court Act of 1980 replaced the old United States Customs Court with the United States Court of International Trade. The Court has nine sitting Judges, as well as Senior Judges...
- United States Court of Federal ClaimsUnited States Court of Federal ClaimsThe United States Court of Federal Claims is a United States federal court that hears monetary claims against the U.S. government. The court is established pursuant to Congress's authority under Article One of the United States Constitution...
- United States Foreign Intelligence Surveillance CourtUnited States Foreign Intelligence Surveillance CourtThe United States Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court is a U.S. federal court authorized under , . It was established by the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 . The FISC oversees requests for surveillance warrants against suspected foreign intelligence agents inside the United...
- United States bankruptcy courtUnited States bankruptcy courtUnited States bankruptcy courts are courts created under Article I of the United States Constitution. They function as units of the district courts and have subject-matter jurisdiction over bankruptcy cases. The federal district courts have original and exclusive jurisdiction over all cases arising...
s
- United States Tax Court
- Courts with Appellate Jurisdiction over specific subject matter:
- United States Court of Appeals for the Federal CircuitUnited States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit-Vacancies and pending nominations:-List of former judges:-Chief judges:Notwithstanding the foregoing, when the court was initially created, Congress had to resolve which chief judge of the predecessor courts would become the first chief judge...
- United States Court of Appeals for the Armed ForcesUnited States Court of Appeals for the Armed ForcesThe United States Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces or CAAF is an Article I court that exercises worldwide appellate jurisdiction over members of the United States armed forces on active duty and other persons subject to the Uniform Code of Military Justice...
- United States Court of Appeals for Veterans ClaimsUnited States Court of Appeals for Veterans ClaimsThe United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims is a federal court of record that was established under Article I of the United States Constitution...
- United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
Former United States Courts
- Temporary Emergency Court of AppealsTemporary Emergency Court of AppealsThe United States Congress established the Temporary Emergency Court of Appeals in December 1971 and granted it exclusive jurisdiction to hear appeals from the decisions of the U.S. district courts in cases arising under the wage and price control program of the Economic Stabilization Act of 1970...
(1971–1992) - United States Court of Customs and Patent AppealsUnited States Court of Customs and Patent AppealsThe United States Court of Customs and Patent Appeals is a former United States federal court which existed from 1909 to 1982 and had jurisdiction over certain types of civil disputes.-History:...
(1909–1982) - United States Commerce CourtUnited States Commerce CourtThe Commerce Court of the United States was a brief-lived federal trial court. It was created by the Mann-Elkins Act in 1910 and abolished a mere three years later. The Commerce Court was a specialized court, given jurisdiction over cases arising from orders of the Interstate Commerce Commission...
(1910–1913) - United States Court of Private Land ClaimsUnited States Court of Private Land ClaimsThe United States Court of Private Land Claims , was a United States court created to decide land claims guaranteed by the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, in the territories of New Mexico, Arizona, and Utah, and in the states of Nevada, Colorado, and Wyoming.-Origins:During Spanish and Mexican rule...
(1891–1904)
Courts by state of the United States
- State supreme courtState supreme courtIn the United States, the state supreme court is the highest state court in the state court system ....
s- State court (United States)
----
Washington
----Courts in the District of Columbia
- District of Columbia Court of AppealsDistrict of Columbia Court of AppealsThe District of Columbia Court of Appeals is the highest court of the District of Columbia. Established by the United States Congress in 1970, it is equivalent to a state supreme court, except that its power derives from Article I of the U.S. Constitution rather than from the inherent sovereignty...
- Superior Court of the District of ColumbiaSuperior Court of the District of ColumbiaThe Superior Court of the District of Columbia is the local trial court for the District of Columbia. It hears cases involving criminal and civil law. The court also handles specialized cases in the following areas: family court, landlord and tenant, probate, tax, and traffic offenses...
- Superior Court of the District of Columbia
Federal courts located in the District of Columbia
- Supreme Court of the United StatesSupreme Court of the United StatesThe Supreme Court of the United States is the highest court in the United States. It has ultimate appellate jurisdiction over all state and federal courts, and original jurisdiction over a small range of cases...
- United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia CircuitUnited States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia CircuitThe United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit known informally as the D.C. Circuit, is the federal appellate court for the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. Appeals from the D.C. Circuit, as with all the U.S. Courts of Appeals, are heard on a...
- United States District Court for the District of ColumbiaUnited States District Court for the District of ColumbiaThe United States District Court for the District of Columbia is a federal district court. Appeals from the District are taken to the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit The United States District Court for the District of Columbia (in case citations, D.D.C.) is a...
- United States Tax CourtUnited States Tax CourtThe United States Tax Court is a federal trial court of record established by Congress under Article I of the U.S. Constitution, section 8 of which provides that the Congress has the power to "constitute Tribunals inferior to the supreme Court"...
- United States District Court for the District of Columbia
- United States Court of Appeals for the Federal CircuitUnited States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit-Vacancies and pending nominations:-List of former judges:-Chief judges:Notwithstanding the foregoing, when the court was initially created, Congress had to resolve which chief judge of the predecessor courts would become the first chief judge...
- United States Court of Appeals for Veterans ClaimsUnited States Court of Appeals for Veterans ClaimsThe United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims is a federal court of record that was established under Article I of the United States Constitution...
- United States Court of Federal ClaimsUnited States Court of Federal ClaimsThe United States Court of Federal Claims is a United States federal court that hears monetary claims against the U.S. government. The court is established pursuant to Congress's authority under Article One of the United States Constitution...
- United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims
- United States Court of Appeals for the Armed ForcesUnited States Court of Appeals for the Armed ForcesThe United States Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces or CAAF is an Article I court that exercises worldwide appellate jurisdiction over members of the United States armed forces on active duty and other persons subject to the Uniform Code of Military Justice...
- United States Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court of ReviewUnited States Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court of ReviewThe United States Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court of Review is a U.S. federal court authorized under and established by the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978...
- United States Foreign Intelligence Surveillance CourtUnited States Foreign Intelligence Surveillance CourtThe United States Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court is a U.S. federal court authorized under , . It was established by the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 . The FISC oversees requests for surveillance warrants against suspected foreign intelligence agents inside the United...
- United States Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court
- United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit
Former federal courts in the District of Columbia
- United States District Court for the District of PotomacUnited States District Court for the District of PotomacThe United States District Court for the District of Potomac was a short-lived United States federal court. Named for the Potomac River, it had jurisdiction over the District of Columbia and pieces of Maryland and Virginia, making it the first United States district court to cross state lines...
(1801–1802; also contained pieces of Maryland and Virginia; extinct, reorganized)
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American Samoa
- High Court of American SamoaHigh Court of American SamoaThe High Court of American Samoa is the highest court below the United States Supreme Court in American Samoa. The Court is located in the capital of Fagatogo. It consists of a Chief Justice and an Associate Justice, appointed by the United States Secretary of the Interior...
Northern Mariana Islands
- Northern Mariana Islands Supreme CourtNorthern Mariana Islands Supreme CourtThe Supreme Court of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands is the highest court of the United States Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands , exercising civil and criminal appellate jurisdiction over commonwealth law matters...
- Northern Mariana Islands Superior Court
United States territorial court
- United States District Court for the Northern Mariana Islands
Puerto Rico
- Supreme Court of Puerto RicoSupreme Court of Puerto RicoThe Supreme Court of Puerto Rico is the highest court of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, having judicial authority within Puerto Rico to interpret and decide questions of Commonwealth law. As the highest body of the judicial branch of the Puerto Rican government, it is analogous to one of the...
(Tribunal Supremo de Puerto Rico)- Circuit Court of Appeals of Puerto Rico (Tribunal de Apelaciones)
- Courts of First Instance of Puerto Rico (Tribunal de Primera Instancia; 13 divisions)
- Circuit Court of Appeals of Puerto Rico (Tribunal de Apelaciones)
Federal courts located in Puerto Rico:
- United States District Court for the District of Puerto RicoUnited States District Court for the District of Puerto RicoThe United States District Court for the District of Puerto Rico is the federal district court whose jurisdiction comprises the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. The court is based in San Juan. The main building is the Clemente Ruiz Nazario U.S. Courthouse located in the Hato Rey district of San Juan...
United States Virgin Islands
- United States Virgin Islands Supreme CourtUnited States Virgin Islands Supreme CourtThe Supreme Court of the Virgin Islands is the highest court in the territory of the United States Virgin Islands. The Supreme Court assumed jurisdiction over appeals from the Superior Court, a trial level court, on January 29, 2007. There are three Supreme Court justices who are each appointed...
- United States Virgin Islands Superior CourtUnited States Virgin Islands Superior CourtThe Virgin Islands Superior Court is the trial court of general jurisdiction for the United States Virgin Islands. The court is composed of nine Judges. They are appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Legislature. Effective January 29, 2007 the Supreme Court of the Virgin Islands assumed...
(2 divisions)
- United States Virgin Islands Superior Court
Extraterritorial courts of the United States
- United States Court for ChinaUnited States Court for ChinaThe United States Court for China was a United States District Court that had extraterritorial jurisdiction over U.S. citizens in China. It existed from 1906 to 1943 and had jurisdiction in civil and criminal matters, with appeals taken to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit in San...
(1906 to 1943), appointed judge held court in cities in China including ShanghaiShanghaiShanghai is the largest city by population in China and the largest city proper in the world. It is one of the four province-level municipalities in the People's Republic of China, with a total population of over 23 million as of 2010...
, , HankowHankouHankou was one of the three cities whose merging formed modern-day Wuhan, the capital of the Hubei province, China. It stands north of the Han and Yangtze Rivers where the Han falls into the Yangtze...
, TientsinTianjin' is a metropolis in northern China and one of the five national central cities of the People's Republic of China. It is governed as a direct-controlled municipality, one of four such designations, and is, thus, under direct administration of the central government...
, and CantonGuangzhouGuangzhou , known historically as Canton or Kwangchow, is the capital and largest city of the Guangdong province in the People's Republic of China. Located in southern China on the Pearl River, about north-northwest of Hong Kong, Guangzhou is a key national transportation hub and trading port...
.
- United States Court for Berlin (1979), existed on paper since 1955, but constituted in fact only once, to hear a single case.
U.S. judicial system in popular culture
Due to its involvement in the resolution of crimes and conflicts, which are an intricate part of dramaDrama
Drama is the specific mode of fiction represented in performance. The term comes from a Greek word meaning "action" , which is derived from "to do","to act" . The enactment of drama in theatre, performed by actors on a stage before an audience, presupposes collaborative modes of production and a...
, the U.S. judicial system is often portrayed in American literature and films.
Several Hollywood films such as A Few Good Men
A Few Good Men
A Few Good Men is a play by Aaron Sorkin, first produced on Broadway by David Brown in 1989. It tells the story of military lawyers at a court-martial who uncover a high-level conspiracy in the course of defending their clients, United States Marines accused of murder.It opened on Broadway at the...
(1992) and Runaway Jury
Runaway Jury
Runaway Jury is a 2003 American drama/thriller film directed by Gary Fleder and starring John Cusack, Gene Hackman, Dustin Hoffman, and Rachel Weisz...
(2003) are set around its courts.