Federal court chart notes

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Federal courts in American Governemnt
Source http://www.uscourts.gov/FederalCourts/UnderstandingtheFederalCourts/FederalCourtsInAmericanGovernment.aspx


 * Federal laws, for example, are passed by Congress and signed by the President. The judicial branch, in turn, has the authority to decide the constitutionality of federal laws and resolve other disputes over them, but judges depend upon the executive branch to enforce court decisions.
 * Under the Constitution, the President appoints federal judges with the "advice and consent" of the Senate.
 * The Department of Justice, which is responsible for prosecuting federal crimes and for representing the government in civil cases, is the most frequent litigator in the federal court system.
 * The United States Marshals Service, for example, provides security for federal courthouses and judges, and the General Services Administration builds and maintains federal courthouses.

Supreme Court of the United States
Source: http://www.uscourts.gov/FederalCourts/UnderstandingtheFederalCourts/SupremeCourt.aspx


 * The United States Supreme Court consists of the Chief Justice of the United States and eight associate justices
 * At its discretion, and within certain guidelines established by Congress, the Supreme Court each year hears a limited number of the cases it is asked to decide.
 * Those cases may begin in the federal or state courts, and they usually involve important questions about the Constitution or federal law.

Courts of Appeals
Source: http://www.uscourts.gov/FederalCourts/UnderstandingtheFederalCourts/CourtofAppeals.aspx


 * The 94 U.S. judicial districts are organized into 12 regional circuits, each of which has a United States court of appeals
 * A court of appeals hears appeals from the district courts located within its circuit, as well as appeals from decisions of federal administrative agencies.
 * Bankruptcy Appellate Panels
 * Bankruptcy Appellate Panels are 3-judge panels authorized to hear appeals of bankruptcy court decisions. These panels are a unit of the federal courts of appeals.
 * Appeals from dispositive orders of bankruptcy judges may be taken to the district court or the BAP (if one has been established and the district has chosen to participate), with further appeal as of right to the court of appeals for the circuit.

District Courts
Source:http://www.uscourts.gov/FederalCourts/UnderstandingtheFederalCourts/DistrictCourts.aspx


 * Within limits set by Congress and the Constitution, the district courts have jurisdiction to hear nearly all categories of federal cases, including both civil and criminal matters.
 * There are 94 federal judicial districts, including at least one district in each state, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. Three territories of the United States -- the Virgin Islands, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands -- have district courts that hear federal cases, including bankruptcy cases.
 * There are two special trial courts that have nationwide jurisdiction over certain types of cases.
 * 1. The Court of International Trade addresses cases involving international trade and customs issues.
 * 2. The United States Court of Federal Claims has jurisdiction over most claims for money damages against the United States, disputes over federal contracts, unlawful "takings" of private property by the federal government, and a variety of other claims against the United States.

Bankruptcy Courts
Source: http://www.uscourts.gov/FederalCourts/UnderstandingtheFederalCourts/BankruptcyCourts.aspx


 * Each of the 94 federal judicial districts handles bankruptcy matters, and in almost all districts, bankruptcy cases are filed in the bankruptcy court.