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Appendix D: Courts and Websites

Federal Court System

The federal court system consists of the following courts and special courts:

 District courts. Involve a dispute claiming monetary damages in excess of an established mini-
mum when the plaintiff and defendant reside in different states (referred to as diversity of citi-
zenship) or, alternative, involve an issue of federal law. Consists of 93 geographic districts (each
state has at least one).

 Courts of appeal. The courts used for appeals of district court trial decisions

 Supreme Court. This is the highest appeals court in the federal court system. Generally, a dis-
puting party must have a decision from the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit and file a
successful petition for trial to be granted in the Supreme Court.

 Tax Court. The courts used for tax disputes between taxpayers and the IRS.

 Court of federal claims. The courts used for constitutional claims against the federal govern-
ment or its branches, offices, or executives.

 Bail court. The courts used for federal bail matters.

Federal Circuits

Following are the 13 appeals circuits operated by the federal court system:

1. First (Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode island, and Puerto Rico)

2. Second (New York, Connecticut, and Vermont)

3. Third (New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Virgin Islands)

4. Fourth (Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina)

5. Fifth (Texas, Louisiana, and Mississippi)

6. Sixth (Tennessee, Kentucky, Ohio, and Michigan)

7. Seventh (Illinois, Indiana, and Wisconsin)

8. Eighth (Arkansas, Iowan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota)

9. Ninth (California, Arizona, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, Alaska, Hawaii,
Guam, and Northern Mariana Islands)

10. Tenth (Colorado, Kansas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Utah, and Wyoming)

11. Eleventh (Alabama, Georgia, and Florida)

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