Federal judiciary of the United States facts for kids

The federal judiciary of the United States is one of the three main parts of the U.S. government. It is set up by the United States Constitution. Article III of the Constitution says there must be a Supreme Court. It also lets Congress create other federal courts. These courts decide legal cases and make sure laws are followed fairly. Federal judges are chosen by the President and approved by the Senate. They serve until they choose to leave, retire, or are removed for serious reasons.

Federal Courts Explained

The federal court system has three main levels. Each level has a different job in handling legal cases.

The Supreme Court

The Supreme Court of the United States is the highest court in the country. It usually hears cases that have already been decided by lower courts. The Supreme Court gets to choose which cases it wants to hear. This means it does not have to hear every case that people want to appeal. However, in a few special situations, like disagreements between different states, the Supreme Court is the first court to hear the case.

Courts of Appeals

The United States courts of appeals are the middle level of federal courts. There are 13 of these courts. Their job is to review decisions made by the trial courts below them. They check to see if the law was applied correctly in those earlier cases. They do not usually hear new evidence or witnesses. They just look at what happened in the trial court.

District Courts

There are 94 United States district courts. These are the main trial courts in the federal system. This is where most federal cases start. In these courts, trials happen, evidence is presented, and witnesses speak. The district courts hear many different types of cases. Sometimes, Congress creates special courts for specific types of cases, but the district courts are the general courts for most federal legal matters.

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In Spanish: Poder Judicial Federal de los Estados Unidos para niños