Structure of Federal Court System
There are three types of courts in the United States: District Court, Appeals Court, and Supreme Court.
District Court:
-There are 94 District Courts in the United States.
-These are trail courts. They have a judge, a defendant, a prosecuting attorney, and a jury to decide innocence or guilt.
Appeals Court:
- There are 13 Appeals Courts in the United States.
-They are NOT trial courts.
-Consists of a panel of 3-7 judges who decide whether or not there was an error in the appealed trial.
-They do not determine guilt.
Supreme Court:
-It is the highest court in the land.
-Consists of 9 judges (8 Associate Justices, and 1 Chief Justice).
-Justices are appointed by the President and must be approved by the Senate.
-They hear appeals from the Appeals Courts.
-They decide which cases they want to hear.
District Court:
-There are 94 District Courts in the United States.
-These are trail courts. They have a judge, a defendant, a prosecuting attorney, and a jury to decide innocence or guilt.
Appeals Court:
- There are 13 Appeals Courts in the United States.
-They are NOT trial courts.
-Consists of a panel of 3-7 judges who decide whether or not there was an error in the appealed trial.
-They do not determine guilt.
Supreme Court:
-It is the highest court in the land.
-Consists of 9 judges (8 Associate Justices, and 1 Chief Justice).
-Justices are appointed by the President and must be approved by the Senate.
-They hear appeals from the Appeals Courts.
-They decide which cases they want to hear.
