Who has federal court authority?

Answer 1

If you are referring to CRIMINAL cases - it is when the law broken is a violation of the U.S. Code, Title 18, which enumerates Federal CRIMINAL offenses. Violations of CIVIL law are entirely different.

Answer 2

Federal courts have authority to conduct trials (original jurisdiction) or hear appeals (appellate jurisdiction) as granted to them by the Constitution and/or by Congress. In most instances, the cases are limited to federal questions -- matters related to the US Constitution, federal law, or US treaties, although there are a few exceptions where federal courts may handle cases related to state statutes.

The Judicial Branch, which includes only US District Courts, the US Court of International Trade, US Court of Appeals Circuit Courts, and the Supreme Court of the United States, have general jurisdiction over both civil and criminal cases, as well as special types of cases described in Article III of the Constitution (see below). The US District Courts and the Court of International Trade are trial courts; the Circuit Courts and Supreme Court are appellate courts.

Other federal courts have special subject matterjurisdiction over cases defined by Congress. Examples include US Tax Court, US Bankruptcy Court, US Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces, etc.

Article III, Section 2

"The judicial power shall extend to all cases, in law and equity, arising under this Constitution, the laws of the United States, and treaties made, or which shall be made, under their authority;--to all cases affecting ambassadors, other public ministers and consuls;--to all cases of admiralty and maritime jurisdiction;--to controversies to which the United States shall be a party;--to controversies between two or more states;--between a state and citizens of another state;--between citizens of different states;--between citizens of the same state claiming lands under grants of different states, and between a state, or the citizens thereof, and foreign states, citizens or subjects.

In all cases affecting ambassadors, other public ministers and consuls, and those in which a state shall be party, the Supreme Court shall have original jurisdiction. In all the other cases before mentioned, the Supreme Court shall have appellate jurisdiction, both as to law and fact, with such exceptions, and under such regulations as the Congress shall make.

The trial of all crimes, except in cases of impeachment, shall be by jury; and such trial shall be held in the state where the said crimes shall have been committed; but when not committed within any state, the trial shall be at such place or places as the Congress may by law have directed."