district courts
Federal trial courts
District courts are the primary trial courts in the U.S. federal judicial system, where most federal cases begin.
Each state contains at least one federal judicial district.
The term also applies to certain state-level trial courts.
Unlike appellate courts, district courts hear evidence, empanel juries, and make initial determinations of fact: The case was filed in district court.
- courthouseLegal proceedings venue
- trial courtsFirst-level judicial bodies
- federal courtsJudiciary handling nationwide cases
- original jurisdictionCourt's power to hear cases first
- judgeOne who decides
voir dire · case management · sentencing · discovery process · legal briefs · filing deadline · jury trials · pretrial hearings · motion to dismiss · litigation · plea bargain · bailiff · clerk · trial · gavel · ruling · verdict · bench
- governmentgovernment, ministries, legislature, judiciary, executive branch
- US Governmentexecutive branch, legislative branch, judicial branch, Congress, House
- courtsfederal courts, circuit courts, municipal courts, trial courts, family courts
- legal systemsconstitutional law, judiciary, criminal code, penal code, laws
- court systemcounty courts, municipal courts, city courts, small claims
- courthousescourtroom, courthouse, federal courthouse, county courthouse, historic courthouse
district courtsSupreme Court
Nation's top tribunal
appellate courts · courts of appeals · circuit courts · highest court · appeals courts