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There are more than three US (or federal) courts, but the three best-known courts are the Article III courts of general jurisdiction:
US District Courts
The 94 US District Courts are the trial courts of the federal judiciary. They have jurisdiction over most types of cases, both civil and criminal, within their geographic areas. Appeals from US District Courts go to the US Court of Appeals Circuit Courts.
US Courts of Appeals Circuit Courts
There are thirteen United States Courts of Appeals Circuit Courts comprising the intermediate appellate step between the District Courts and the Supreme Court. Twelve of these courts handle cases from District Courts within their geographic areas. The Circuits are specifically referred to by name or number; for example, United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit or United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. The thirteenth Circuit court is the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, which has nationwide jurisdiction over cases from the courts of International Trade and Federal Claims. They also review patent cases and other matters.
Supreme Court of the United States
Although we often refer to the highest court in the nation as the US Supreme Court (to distinguish it from state supreme courts), the official name is the Supreme Court of the United States, often abbreviated SCOTUS.
The nine justices (one Chief Justice and eight Associate Justices) primarily hear cases on appeal from the Circuit Courts, although they may hear certain types of cases directly from the US District Courts, and also from state supreme courts, if the case involves a preserved matter of federal or constitutional law.
Most cases are submitted to the Supreme Court on a petition for a writ of certiorari, a request for the Court to review the petitioner's case. In 2009, the Court received more than 7,700 petitions, and accepted fewer than 100 for oral argument. The Court has sole discretion over which cases it hears, so the justices choose matters of national importance or issues where the Constitution is being interpreted inconsistently or in opposition to the Court's opinion.
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What is the only court not mentioned in US Constitution?
The US Supreme Court is the only court specifically mentioned in the Constitution; none of the other federal courts, past, present or future, was mentioned.
How were the courts defined by the Constitution?
Courts have jurisdiction over interpretations of the constitution and can suggest amendments. The supreme court was the only one mentioned in the US constitution.
What different courts are there in the judicial branch?
The Supreme Court of the United States oversees the US Court of Military Appeals and the Court of Appeals. The Court of Appeals oversees the US Court of Federal Claims, US Court of International Trade, District Courts, and Territorial Courts. Other functions of the Judicial Branch involve the Administrative Office of the Courts, Federal Judicial Center, and US Sentencing Commission.
What are the three types of state courts?
The names (or existence) of particular courts will vary state by state, but generally states have a trial courts which has general jurisdiction, trial courts with specific jurisdiction over some specific type of case such as traffic offenses, appeals courts, and a state supreme court.
According to the US Constitution the courts are part of which of the three branches of government?
It is in the judicial branch. Article 3 of the Constitution vests the judicial power of the new government in the US Supreme Court. Article 3 goes on to authorize Congress to create other lower courts, like trial and appeals courts, as it sees fit.
