Congress has established two local courts for the District of Columbia: the Superior Court of the District of Columbia and the District of Columbia Court of Appeals. The Superior Court serves as the trial court for local matters, handling civil, criminal, family, and probate cases. The District of Columbia Court of Appeals functions as the highest court in the district, reviewing decisions made by the Superior Court and other local agencies.
superior court
Congress established the District of Columbia Court of Appeals as the highest court for the District of Columbia, along with the Superior Court of the District of Columbia as its trial court. The Court of Appeals handles appeals from the Superior Court and other administrative agencies. This structure allows for a separate judicial system in D.C., distinct from federal courts, ensuring local matters are addressed within the district's legal framework.
Local courts and district courts.
Congress established the lower federal courts
a district court
a district court
a district court
Which act established the district and appeals courts
Congress has established a lot of courts in the federal judiciary; the Constitution gives them that power in Article I. The only court specifically mentioned in the Constitution is the US Supreme Court, which was mandated by Article III of the Constitution, but established by Congress in the Judiciary Act of 1789.
District courts hear cases on topics assigned to them by Congress, and federal courts hear cases regarding constitutional law and treaties.
US Territorial CourtsFederal courts that perform the function of US District Courts, but that are located in US territories outside the 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico are called US Territorial Courts. These were established as Article I tribunals, not Article III courts, like standard US District Courts.Examples of the US Territorial Courts include:US District Court for the Northern Mariana IslandsUS District Court for the District of GuamUS District Court for the US Virgin IslandsThe US Supreme Court has appellate jurisdiction over many cases heard in US Territorial Courts.US Territorial Courts.
US District Courts are trial courts established under Article III of the Constitution, and are part of the Judicial branchof government.