Court system.
Definition
The hierarchical structure of federal and state courts in the United States. The federal court system has three levels: district courts (trial courts), circuit courts of appeals, and the Supreme Court. State court systems have parallel structures handling most criminal and civil cases.
Examples
Real-world.
- 1 Federal district courts are the trial courts where cases are first heard
- 2 The 13 circuit courts of appeals review decisions from district courts
- 3 The Supreme Court is the final court of appeal and has nine justices
Key Fact
There are 94 federal district courts, 13 circuit courts of appeals, and 1 Supreme Court.