1. Federal District Court
District Court
-lowest level of Federal Courts
-all federal cases must begin at this
level
-Each court rules over a district. At
least one court per state
-District Courts complete about 90%
of the Federal case load

2. Federal District Court
Court’s Purpose
-District Courts handle cases that
fall under Federal jurisdiction
-District Courts use a jury trial to
decide guilt or innocence
-Judges are to interpret the law and
determine punishments

3. Federal District Court
Court Officials
-Judges are appointed by the
President w/ Senate approval
Judges serve a life-time term
-U.S. Attorneys represent the
government in all cases
-U.S. Marshals
-Magistrates
-Court Clerks

4. Federal Appeals Court
Appeals Court
-Appeals Courts serve as the second
level in the system
-They have only appellate
jurisdiction
-there are 12 Courts of Appeal in
the U.S. which supervise a district
-Cases are appealed to the Court
because of unfairness or error

5. Federal Appeals Court
Court Procedures
-No juries are used in Appeals Courts
-No determination is made on guilt or
innocence
-Only decision is whether a fair trial
was given
-Written Briefs of the unfair ruling or
trial error are prepared and oral
arguments are presented before the
court
-Panels of 3 or more judges hear the
cases and make decisions

6. Federal Appeals Court
Court Rulings
-Appeals Courts can make three
decisions in a case
-Uphold
confirm the previous court’s
decision
-Overturn
-reverse the previous court’s
decision
-Remand
-send the case back down to a
lower court for retrial