U.S. Case Law

In the United States, courts exist on both the federal and state levels.

The United States Supreme Court is the highest court in the United States. Lower courts on the federal level include the U.S. Courts of Appeals, U.S. District Courts, the U.S. Court of Claims, and the U.S. Court of International Trade and U.S. Bankruptcy Courts. Federal courts hear cases involving matters related to the United States Constitution, other federal laws and regulations, and certain matters that involve parties from different states or countries and large sums of money in dispute.

Each state has its own judicial system that includes trial and appellate courts. The highest court in each state is often referred to as the "supreme" court, although there are some exceptions to this rule, such as the New York Court of Appeals. State courts generally hear cases involving state constitutional matters, state law and regulations, although state courts may also generally hear cases involving federal laws. States also usually have courts that handle only a specific subset of legal matters, such as family law and probate.

Case law, also known as precedent or common law, is the body of prior judicial decisions that guide judges deciding issues before them. Depending on the relationship between the deciding court and the precedent, case law may be binding or merely persuasive. For example, a decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit is binding on all federal district courts within the Fifth Circuit, but a court sitting in California (whether a federal or state court) is not strictly bound to follow the Fifth Circuit's prior decision. Similarly, a decision by one district court in New York is not binding on another district court, but the original court's reasoning might help guide the second court in reaching its decision.

Decisions by the U.S. Supreme Court are binding on all federal and state courts.

U.S. Federal Courts

The core of the federal judicial system consists of three main levels: the U.S. Supreme Court, the U.S. Circuit Courts of Appeals, and the U.S. District Courts. Certain specialized courts handle distinctive types of cases.

U.S. Supreme Court

The U.S. Supreme Court is the highest tribunal in the United States. Its interpretations of federal law and the U.S. Constitution are binding on all other courts.

U.S. Circuit Courts of Appeals

The U.S. Circuit Courts of Appeals are the main intermediate appellate courts in the federal judicial system. Most Circuit Courts have jurisdiction over a designated geographical region. The Federal Circuit has nationwide jurisdiction over specific types of appeals, such as certain matters involving patents, trademarks, international trade, and government contracts.

You can also explore decisions by the Circuit Courts in the following official reporters:

Decisions by a Circuit Court other than the Federal Circuit are binding only in its region. A party who disagrees with a decision by a Circuit Court may appeal to the Supreme Court, but it selects only a small percentage of these appeals for review.

U.S. District Courts

The U.S. District Courts are the main trial courts in the federal judicial system. Each state (and Washington, D.C.) has at least one federal district, and some states are divided into multiple districts. When this division occurs, districts are defined geographically, such as the Northern, Southern, Eastern, and Western Districts of New York.

In addition, the federal judiciary maintains District Courts in the following four territories:

You can also explore decisions by the District Courts in the following official reporters:

A party who disagrees with a decision by a District Court can appeal to the appropriate Circuit Court.

Federal Bankruptcy Courts

The U.S. District Courts contain units called "bankruptcy courts," which review bankruptcy cases and related proceedings. If a party disagrees with a decision by a bankruptcy court, they can appeal to the District Court. In addition, some federal circuits have formed Bankruptcy Appellate Panels (BAPs), which consist of three bankruptcy judges appointed from that circuit's districts. These may hear appeals of decisions by bankruptcy courts if the parties agree and if the district where the bankruptcy court sits authorizes these appeals. Currently, BAPs exist in five circuits:

A U.S. Bankruptcy Appellate Panel for the Second Circuit also existed between 1996 and 2000.

Other Federal Courts

The federal judicial system also includes certain specialized courts dedicated to claims or appeals involving specific topics.

  • U.S. Court of Federal Claims - This court serves as a trial court for most monetary claims against the federal government. It was formerly known as the U.S. Claims Court.
  • U.S. Tax Court - This court hears challenges to decisions of tax deficiencies by the Internal Revenue Service. It was originally established as the U.S. Board of Tax Appeals.
  • U.S. Court of International Trade - This court reviews cases arising from federal laws involving customs and international trade. It was formerly known as the U.S. Customs Court.
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces - This court reviews appeals from the four Courts of Criminal Appeals in the armed forces: the Army, the Navy-Marine Corps, the Air Force, and the Coast Guard Courts of Criminal Appeals. It was formerly known as the U.S. Court of Military Appeals.
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims - This court reviews determinations of veterans' disability claims by the Board of Veterans' Appeals in the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). It was formerly known as the U.S. Court of Veterans Appeals.
  • U.S. Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court of Review - This court reviews appeals from the U.S. Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court, involving applications for warrants related to national security investigations.
  • U.S. Court of Claims (1855-1982) - This court was the earliest judicial forum for monetary claims against the federal government.
  • U.S. Court of Customs and Patent Appeals (1909-1982) - For most of its history, this court heard appeals from the U.S. Customs Court and the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. It was originally known as the U.S. Court of Customs Appeals before it began hearing patent and trademark cases in 1929.
  • Emergency Court of Appeals (1942-1962) - This court reviewed challenges to government actions involving the Emergency Price Control Act of 1942, the Housing and Rent Acts of 1948, and the Defense Production Act of 1950.

State Courts

Foreign and International Courts