Legal Definitions - federal judiciary

The federal judiciary refers to the system of courts and judges that interprets and applies the laws of the United States at the national level. It is one of the three co-equal branches of the U.S. government, established by Article III of the U.S. Constitution.

Unlike state court systems, which handle a broad range of legal matters, the federal judiciary has a more limited scope. It primarily hears cases that involve:

• The U.S. Constitution
• Federal laws passed by Congress
• Treaties signed by the United States
• Disputes between states or involving the U.S. government
• Cases involving specific parties, such as ambassadors or citizens of different states (under certain conditions)

The federal judiciary is structured in three main tiers:

• District Courts: These are the trial courts of the federal system, where cases begin, evidence is presented, and decisions are initially made. There are 94 federal judicial districts across the country.
• Courts of Appeals: If a party is dissatisfied with a District Court's decision, they can appeal to one of the 13 U.S. Courts of Appeals. These courts review the trial court's proceedings to ensure that the law was applied correctly.
• Supreme Court: At the top of the federal judiciary is the U.S. Supreme Court, consisting of nine justices. It is the highest court in the land and its decisions are final. The Supreme Court primarily hears appeals from the Courts of Appeals and state supreme courts, often choosing cases that involve significant constitutional questions or conflicting interpretations of federal law. In a few specific types of cases (like disputes between states), it has "original jurisdiction," meaning it hears the case directly without it first going through lower courts.

Federal judges, including Supreme Court justices, are nominated by the President and confirmed by the Senate. They hold their positions for life, or until they retire or are removed through impeachment, a system designed to ensure their independence from political pressure.

Examples of the Federal Judiciary in Action:

• A Company Violates Federal Environmental Law: Imagine a large manufacturing company is accused by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) of illegally dumping pollutants into a river that crosses state lines, violating the federal Clean Water Act. The EPA would likely file a lawsuit against the company in a U.S. District Court. If the company is found liable and appeals the decision, the case would then move to a U.S. Court of Appeals. This illustrates the federal judiciary's role in enforcing federal statutes and regulations.

• A Constitutional Challenge to a State Law: A group of citizens believes that a new state law restricting certain types of online speech violates their First Amendment right to freedom of expression under the U.S. Constitution. They would file a lawsuit challenging the state law in a U.S. District Court. If the case proceeds through appeals and raises a novel or significant constitutional question, it could potentially be heard by the U.S. Supreme Court. This demonstrates how the federal judiciary safeguards constitutional rights and interprets the Constitution.

• A Dispute Between Two States: The state of California and the state of Nevada have a long-standing disagreement over the allocation of water resources from a shared river. Since this is a dispute directly between two states, the U.S. Supreme Court would have "original jurisdiction" and would hear the case directly, without it first going through lower federal courts. This highlights a specific and unique power of the Supreme Court within the federal judiciary.