What is the hierarchy of courts in the Judicial Branch?

Answer 1

One Supreme Court

There is one Supreme Court of the United States that serves as the final appellate court for the Judicial Branch. Supreme Court decisions set binding precedents for the courts below it.

Thirteen Circuits

There are thirteen US Court of Appeals Circuit Courts that serve as intermediate appellate courts between the trial courts and the Supreme Court. Most federal appeals are resolved at the Circuit level. Twelve of the Circuits have territorial jurisdiction over specific regions of the country and the District Courts operating in those regions. The US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit has nationwide jurisdiction over special subject matter cases, such as appeals from the US Court of Federal Claims, and trademark and patent cases.

US Court of Appeals Circuit Courts set binding precedents for the US District Courts within their territory, but their decisions are not binding on other Circuits or Districts outside their territory.

Ninety-Four Districts

There are 94 US District Courts in the United States and its territories, all distributed amongst the federal Circuits. The District Courts are the trial courts that serve as the point of entry to the federal judiciary. District Court decisions are not binding on other courts.

One Special Subject Matter Court

There is one US Court of International Trade in New York City that functions as a trial court at the same level as the US District Courts. The USCIT has subject matter jurisdiction over customs cases and other matters related to international trade disputes.

Attempt at Hierarchy Diagram

1 US Supreme Court

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13 US Court of Appeals Circuit Courts

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94 US District Courts and 1 US Court of International Trade