A federal district court, also known as a United States district court, refers to a court established under the jurisdiction of the federal government in the United States. These courts are trial courts that hear and decide both civil and criminal cases at the federal level. The term "federal district court" is typically associated with courts in each of the 94 federal judicial districts across the country.
As the initial level of the federal court system, federal district courts have the authority to hear a wide range of cases, including those related to constitutional violations, federal laws, disputes between citizens of different states, bankruptcy, patent infringement, and federal crimes. Each federal judicial district usually has at least one district court, with more populated areas having multiple courts to handle the workload.
Federal district courts are presided over by federal judges, who are appointed for life by the President of the United States and confirmed by the Senate. These judges are responsible for conducting trials, interpreting and applying the law, issuing rulings, and overseeing various legal proceedings within their jurisdiction.
Decisions made in federal district courts can often be appealed to the United States court of appeals, which functions as the intermediate appellate level within the federal court system. In some exceptional cases, appeals may be made directly to the Supreme Court of the United States, the highest court in the country.
