United States · Courts
Court structure of United States
Every tier of the judiciary, what it hears, and where an appeal goes next.
The hierarchy, top to bottom
- Supreme — Supreme Court of the United States
- Nine justices; largely discretionary certiorari docket.
- Appellate — United States Courts of Appeals
- Thirteen circuits hearing appeals as of right.
- First instance — United States District Courts
- Ninety-four districts; federal trial courts.
- Specialised — Tax, Bankruptcy, Federal Claims, CAFC
- Subject-matter courts with dedicated appeal routes.
- State — State supreme, appellate and trial courts
- Handle the overwhelming majority of all litigation.
Every court in the hierarchy
- supremeWashington, D.C.Supreme Court of the United StatesNational — final appellate and limited original jurisdiction
- appellateSan Francisco, CaliforniaUnited States Court of Appeals for the Ninth CircuitNine western states and two territories
- first-instanceNew York, New YorkUnited States District Court for the Southern District of New YorkManhattan, the Bronx and six surrounding counties
- specialisedWashington, D.C.United States Tax CourtNational — federal tax deficiency disputes
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