US district courts

Definition

US District Courts are the general trial courts of the United States federal court system where civil and criminal cases are initially filed and heard. They interpret and apply federal laws to cases within their jurisdiction, which can range from disputes involving federal statutes to issues between citizens of different states if the amount in controversy exceeds a certain threshold.

Related terms

Federal Law: Laws created by the federal government of the United States that apply to all states and citizens within its jurisdiction.

Appellate Court: A court having jurisdiction to review decisions of a trial-level or other lower court.

Jurisdiction: The official power to make legal decisions and judgments, typically in terms of geographical area and/or types of cases