federal court system
U.S. judicial branch
The federal court system is the network of courts established by the U.S.
Constitution to handle cases involving federal law, constitutional questions, and disputes between states or citizens of different states.
It operates separately from state courts, with district courts at the base, circuit courts of appeals in the middle, and the Supreme Court at the top.
The case was moved to the federal court system because it involved a constitutional challenge.
- original jurisdictionCourt's power to hear cases first
- judgeOne who decides
- benchShared seating surface
- oral argumentsSpoken advocacy before judges
- legal briefsFormal court submissions
judicial review · case law · sentencing guidelines · plea bargain · public defenders · evidence · motions · prosecutors · defense · class action · discovery process · attorneys general · witness · sentence · clerk · jury · standing · filing deadline
federal court systemstate courts
Non-federal legal tribunals
municipal courts · county courts · tribal courts · city courts
federal court systemCongress
U.S. lawmaking body
federal legislature · executive branch · federal agencies · administrative agencies
federal court systemarbitration
Non-court binding dispute resolution
mediation · vigilante justice · self-help · mob justice · negotiated settlement
federal, federalism, federalist, federate, federation, confederate, confederation, court, courts