Legal Definitions - federal courts

Federal courts are part of the United States judicial system, distinct from state courts. They are courts of "limited jurisdiction," meaning they can only hear specific types of cases defined by the U.S. Constitution and federal laws, rather than all types of legal disputes.

Generally, federal courts have the authority to hear cases that involve:

• Federal Questions: Cases that deal with the U.S. Constitution, federal laws passed by Congress, or treaties.
• Diversity of Citizenship: Cases between citizens of different states, typically involving a significant amount of money in dispute (currently over $75,000).
• Cases Involving the U.S. Government: Disputes where the United States itself is a party.
• Cases Between States: Legal disputes directly between two or more state governments.

The federal court system is structured in three main tiers:

• District Courts: These are the trial courts where cases begin, evidence is presented, and decisions are initially made. There are 94 federal judicial districts across the country.
• Circuit Courts (Courts of Appeals): If a party is unhappy with a District Court's decision, they can appeal to one of the 13 U.S. Courts of Appeals (also known as Circuit Courts). These courts review the trial court's proceedings for legal errors.
• Supreme Court: The highest court in the federal system. It hears a very small number of cases each year, usually those involving significant constitutional questions or conflicts between lower court decisions.

Additionally, there are specialized federal courts that handle particular types of cases, such as tax disputes or international trade issues.

Examples of Federal Courts in Action:

• Example 1: Civil Rights Violation

  Imagine a group of citizens files a lawsuit against a local police department, alleging that the department's practices systematically violate their Fourth Amendment rights against unreasonable searches and seizures. This case would be heard in a federal court because it involves a claim under the U.S. Constitution (a federal question). The federal court would determine if the police department's actions indeed violated federal constitutional law.

• Example 2: Interstate Contract Dispute

  A construction company based in Florida enters into a contract with a real estate developer from New York to build a large commercial property. A dispute arises over payment, with the Florida company claiming the New York developer owes them $500,000. Because the parties are citizens of different states and the amount in controversy exceeds $75,000, this case could be filed in a federal court under its "diversity of citizenship" jurisdiction, even though it's a contract dispute that might otherwise be heard in a state court.

• Example 3: Federal Environmental Law Enforcement

  The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), a federal agency, discovers that a manufacturing plant is discharging pollutants into a river in violation of the Clean Water Act, a federal statute. The EPA could initiate a lawsuit against the plant in a federal district court to compel compliance with the law and impose penalties. This falls under federal court jurisdiction because it involves the enforcement of a federal environmental law by a federal agency.