What court has to hear a case before it can be appealed to the US Supreme Court?

Answer 1

Yes. US District Courts are the court of original jurisdiction for many cases that eventually reach the US Supreme Court. Approximately two-thirds of the Supreme Court's caseload comes from the federal court system, and most of those cases start with a trial in US District Court.

Answer 2

There is no single court that is required to hear all cases before an appeal can be made to the Supreme Court. While most of the Supreme Court's docket originates in the US Courts of Appeals Circuit Courts, cases may also be petitioned directly from other courts in the state and federal judiciary (see list, below).

Explanation

In the federal courts, most appeals proceed from the US District Court (trial courts) to the US Court of Appeals Circuit Court that has jurisdiction over the District where the trial was held. Under certain circumstances, cases may be petitioned directly from the US District Court on direct or expedited appeal, bypassing the Circuit Courts.

Federal cases are also occasionally appealed directly from the Court of Military Appeals, the Court of Claims, and the Court of International Trade.

In the state courts, appeals proceed from the trial court (names vary) to whatever appellate court (again, names vary) has jurisdiction over the cases heard in the lower court. These are considered the state's intermediate appellate courts.

Also in the state court system, appeals must first be petitioned to the state supreme court (or its equivalent). The US Supreme Court may consider a petition from the state courts only after the state supreme court hears or denies an appeal IF the case involves a preserved federal question. If the state supreme court refuses to hear the appeal, the case may be petitioned directly from the state court of appeals (or equivalent intermediate appellate court).

A federal question is one involving federal or US Constitutional law. Preserved means the question must be raised at each level, from the trial court through each step of the appeals process.

Summary:

1. US Courts of Appeals Circuit Courts
2. State Supreme Courts (or equivalent)
3. US District Courts
4. State court of appeals (intermediate appellate, if appeal was rejected by state supreme court)
5. US Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces
6. US Court of Federal Claims (normally appealed through the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit)
7. US Court of International Trade (normally appealed through the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit)

For more information, see Related Questions, below.