[wd_asp id=1]
In this lesson, you will learn the court levels, the court structure, what gives the court’s authority, and the types of cases that are heard in each.
Federal courts in the U.S.
- Multiple court system
- Federal court structure – Highest Court, Courts of Appeals, Trial Courts, and other courts based on the subject
- Derives authority from Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, U.S. Constitution, United States Code, Uniform Commercial Code, and Supreme Court
- Types of cases heard: Federal questions, Diversity, U.S. goverment, Treaties and diplomats, and Admiralty cases
Transcript
The federal system of courts is divided into three main units, the U.S. Supreme Court, appeals courts, trial courts, and other courts and boards that handle specific types of cases.
The federal courts consist of multiple trial courts and courts based on subject like bankruptcy and taxes. These are courts where trials take place or where cases originate. It is in these courts that you have to make a decision about jurisdiction.
Court appeals are just that, courts where cases are appealed. The U.S. Supreme Court is the highest court and final stop in the federal justice system.
Written laws, like the federal rules of civil procedure, the constitution, the U.S. codes, and others give the federal court authority to hear and rule on certain cases. Through cases, the courts interpret what written laws mean.
Federal courts can decide federal questions like constitutional issues, military law, and cases involving laws the U.S. Congress passed. They can decide diversity cases like disputes between residents of different states or between states. They can resolve cases where the U.S. government is a party or laws regarding treaties and diplomats. Finally, they can resolve admiralty law issues, which involve water bodies in and around the U.S.