Federal judiciary of the United States

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The Federal Judiciary of the United States is one of the three branches of the federal government of the United States organized under the United States Constitution and laws of the federal government. Article III of the Constitution requires the establishment of a Supreme Court and allows the Congress to create other federal courts, and place limitations on their jurisdiction.

Structure

The federal judiciary operates separately from the executive and legislative branches, but often works with them as the Constitution requires. Federal courts, including the Supreme Court of the United States, are fundamentally charged with interpreting the law and ensuring justice under the law.

Supreme Court

The Supreme Court of the United States is the highest court in the federal judiciary. It has ultimate appellate jurisdiction over all federal courts and over state court cases involving issues of federal law, plus original jurisdiction over a small range of cases. The Court is headed by the Chief Justice of the United States.

Courts of Appeals

Below the Supreme Court are the United States Courts of Appeals. As of now, there are 13 appellate courts that sit below the Supreme Court, and these are divided into circuits across the country. Each court of appeals handles appeals from the district courts within its circuit, as well as appeals from decisions of federal administrative agencies.

District Courts

At the lowest level are the United States District Courts, which handle the bulk of federal cases. There are 94 federal judicial districts, including at least one district in each state, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. The district courts handle both civil and criminal cases.

Specialized Courts

In addition to these general courts, there are federal courts that handle specific types of cases. These include the United States Court of International Trade, and the United States Bankruptcy Courts, each of which has a specialized jurisdiction.

Judicial Appointments

Judges of the federal courts are appointed by the President of the United States and must be confirmed by the United States Senate. These judges hold their seats until they resign, die, or are removed from office through impeachment by Congress.

Judicial Review

One of the most important powers of the federal judiciary is judicial review, the authority to invalidate state or federal laws that conflict with the Constitution. This power was established by the landmark decision in Marbury v. Madison.

Challenges and Criticisms

The federal judiciary has faced various challenges and criticisms, including debates over judicial activism, the politicization of judicial appointments, and the transparency of court proceedings.

See Also

• Judiciary Act of 1789
• Marbury v. Madison
• Judicial Procedures Reform Bill of 1937