Basic Structure of the U.S. Court System

Three Parallel Tiers

• Federal Courts – Constitutional courts handling federal law.
• State Courts – State‑created courts handling state law.
• Local Courts – Municipal/county courts for ordinances and minor offences.

Federal Hierarchy

1. U.S. District Courts (trial level, ≥1 per state)
2. U.S. Courts of Appeals (13 geographic circuits)
3. U.S. Supreme Court (final appellate authority)

Typical State Hierarchy

1. Trial courts (general and limited jurisdiction)
2. Intermediate appellate courts (most states)
3. State Supreme Court (court of last resort)

Local Courts

Municipal courts, justice‑of‑the‑peace courts, traffic courts—handle city/county ordinances, petty offences, small claims.