Federal Courts Resources

Paralegal Guide: United States Federal Courts

Here is an extensive list pertaining to the US Federal Courts from all 50 states and the other territories with links to law websites. This will help give you some background on the appeals, district and bankruptcy courts. Please refer to our other resources for some valuable information to assist you in your law research and studies.

The judicial branch of the United States national government is one of three coequal branches defined by the III Amendment to the United States Constitution, along with the legislative branch (the bicameral Congress consisting of the House and the Senate), and the executive branch (led by the president).

The Supreme Court (also referred as the High Court, or by its acronym SCOTUS) is the top tier of the federal judicial system. The court has ultimate but discretionary power to review and overturn the decisions of all state and federal courts. It is thus the highest court, or the court of last resort, whose rulings are not subject to further review. The court consists of a chief justice and eight associate justices, all of whom are nominated by the president and confirmed by the Senate. Once confirmed, the justices serve life tenures, and may be removed only by impeachment.

The United States Courts of Appeals (or circuit courts) occupy an intermediary level, below the Supreme Court and above the district courts. There are 94 judicial districts in the United States, which are organized into 12 regional circuits, with each of these 12 circuits having its own appeals court. The circuit courts hear appellate cases from the lower district courts within their jurisdiction. The U.S. Courts of Appeals often are the final arbiter of the cases that are brought before them, as fewer than 100 of the over 10,000 cases filed with the U.S. Supreme Court annually will be heard by the High Court.

The 94 United States District Courts are the trial courts, hearing both civil and criminal cases. There is at least one district court in each state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the three insular territories of the United States – the Virgin Islands, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands. District court cases are decided by juries which are selected from the general population.

Bankruptcy courts make up a special division of the district court system, with each of the 94 districts including a bankruptcy court. Bankruptcies liquidate the assets and set up payment plans for individuals and businesses who can no longer pay their their creditors. Most bankruptcy cases are filed under one of the three main chapters of the Bankruptcy Code - Chapter 7, Chapter 11, and Chapter 13.

A civil case in federal court begins when a complaint is filed by one or more plaintiffs against one ore more defendants. The defendant is served a copy of the complaint, which describes the plaintiff’s injury and the defendant’s part in causing that injury. The plaintiff may seek monetary compensation, or a court order to restrain the defendant.

The judge may ask the litigants to attempt to reach a resolution without going to trial. Alternative dispute resolutions (ADRs) include mediation and arbitration, and may result in a settlement. ADRs are encouraged to avoid the time and cost of taking a case to trial.

Litigants are entitled to a jury trial under the Constitution. They may also waive their right to a jury and have their case heard by a judge, which is called a bench trial.

In the pretrial discovery phase, the litigants assemble documents and witnesses related to the case. Litigants may also file motions with the court, requesting specification of the trial procedures. Discovery may also include a deposition, in which a lawyer questions a witness about the case, and the testimony is transcribed by a court reporter.

Witnesses at a trial are barred from entering the courtroom prior to testifying, so as not to be influenced by the testimony of other witnesses. The judge determines which evidence will be admitted, according to the rules of evidence. A deputy clerk of the court keeps the records of who testifies, and maintains the documents, photographs, and other items submitted as evidence.

During questioning of witnesses, attorneys may object to a line of questioning, and the judge may sustain or overrule the objection. Objections are recorded by the court reporter, and may be reviewed if the case is appealed to a higher court.

After the evidence has been presented, each side gives their closing arguments. In a bench trial, the judge will determine the culpability and amount of damages. In a jury trial, the judge will explain to the jury the relevant laws, and the jury will determine harm and damages.

West (formerly known as West Publishing), a subsidiary of Thomson Reuters, is a private company that publishes U.S. case law, covering legal, business, and regulatory information.
Open Jurist is an online resource offering free access to the case law of the United States. The site includes approximately 647,000 opinions and other transactions from the United States Supreme Court, dating back to 1790, and proceedings from the lower federal courts, as published in the Federal Reporter since 1880.
LexisNexis is a database service and an electronic research unit, containing current United States statutes and laws. The site allows subscribers to search published case opinions dating from the 1770s, and publicly available unpublished case opinions dating from 1980.
USCourts.gov is the official site of the federal judiciary, maintained by the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts.
The Federal Judiciary Center is the education and research center for the federal courts. The site includes educational materials produced for judges and court employees.
The United States Sentencing Commission is an independent agency that collects, analyzes and distributes information on federal crime and sentencing issues in order to establish sentencing guidelines for federal courts and to advise congress.
Federal Court Concepts is a module developed by Curtis D. Edmonds, J.D. at Georgia Tech. The site is designed to introduce secondary and postsecondary students to the American federal court system.
Law.com hosts an online dictionary that allows users to search legal terms and definitions.
The American Bar Association offers an online guide to how courts work, including pages on the court system, legal procedures, the steps in a trial, judges and mediation.
The Legal Information Institute at Cornell University Law School provides online access to a collection of legal materials and court decisions, including materials on federal law and judicial opinions.
FindLaw, a Thomson Reuters business, provides online legal information for law firms. The site includes a tool for connecting attorneys with people in need of legal representation.

United States Supreme Court

U.S. Supreme Court

United States Circuit Courts of Appeal

U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit

Specialized Federal Courts

Alabama

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
U.S. District Court — Middle District of Alabama
U.S. District Court — Northern District of Alabama
U.S. District Court — Southern District of Alabama
U.S. Bankruptcy Court — Middle District of Alabama
U.S. Bankruptcy Court — Northern District of Alabama
U.S. Bankruptcy Court — Southern District of Alabama

Alaska

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
U.S. District Court — Alaska
U.S. Bankruptcy Court — Alaska

Arizona

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
U.S. District Court — Arizona
U.S. Bankruptcy Court — Arizona

Arkansas

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
U.S. District Court — Eastern District of Arkansas
U.S. Bankruptcy Court — Eastern District of Arkansas
U.S. Bankruptcy Court — Western District of Arkansas

California

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
U.S. District Court — Central District of California
U.S. District Court — Eastern District of California
U.S. District Court — Northern District of California
U.S. District Court — Southern District of California
U.S. Bankruptcy Court — Central District of California
U.S. Bankruptcy Court — Eastern District of California
U.S. Bankruptcy Court — Northern District of California
U.S. Bankruptcy Court — Southern District of California

Colorado

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit
U.S. District Court — Colorado
U.S. Bankruptcy Court — Colorado

Connecticut

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
U.S. District Court — Connecticut
U.S. Bankruptcy Court — Connecticut

Delaware

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
U.S. District Court — Delaware
U.S. Bankruptcy Court — Delaware

District of Columbia

U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit
U.S. District Court — District of Columbia

Florida

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
U.S. District Court — Middle District of Florida
U.S. District Court — Northern District of Florida
U.S. District Court — Southern District of Florida
U.S. Bankruptcy Court — Middle District of Florida
U.S. Bankruptcy Court — Northern District of Florida
U.S. Bankruptcy Court — Southern District of Florida

Georgia

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
U.S. District Court — Middle District of Georgia
U.S. District Court — Northern District of Georgia
U.S. District Court — Southern District of Georgia
U.S. Bankruptcy Court — Middle District of Georgia
U.S. Bankruptcy Court — Northern District of Georgia
U.S. Bankruptcy Court — Southern District of Georgia

Guam

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
U.S. District Court — Guam

Hawaii

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
U.S. District Court — Hawaii
U.S. Bankruptcy Court — Hawaii

Idaho

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
U.S. District Court — Idaho
U.S. Bankruptcy Court — Idaho

Illinois

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
U.S. District Court — Central District of Illinois
U.S. District Court — Northern District of Illinois
U.S. District Court — Southern District of Illinois
U.S. Bankruptcy Court — Central District of Illinois
U.S. Bankruptcy Court — Northern District of Illinois
U.S. Bankruptcy Court — Southern District of Illinois

Indiana

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
U.S. District Court — Northern District of Indiana
U.S. District Court — Southern District of Indiana
U.S. Bankruptcy Court — Northern District of Indiana
U.S. Bankruptcy Court — Southern District of Indiana

Iowa

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
U.S. District Court — Northern District of Iowa
U.S. District Court — Southern District of Iowa
U.S. Bankruptcy Court — Northern District of Iowa
U.S. Bankruptcy Court — Southern District of Iowa

Kansas

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit
U.S. District Court — Kansas
U.S. Bankruptcy Court — Kansas

Kentucky

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
U.S. District Court — Eastern District of Kentucky
U.S. District Court — Western District of Kentucky
U.S. Bankruptcy Court — Eastern District of Kentucky
U.S. Bankruptcy Court — Western District of Kentucky

Louisiana

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
U.S. District Court — Eastern District of Louisiana
U.S. District Court — Middle District of Louisiana
U.S. District Court — Western District of Louisiana
U.S. Bankruptcy Court — Eastern District of Louisiana
U.S. Bankruptcy Court — Middle District of Louisiana
U.S. Bankruptcy Court — Western District of Louisiana

Maine

U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit
U.S. District Court — Maine
U.S. Bankruptcy Court — Maine

Maryland

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
U.S. District Court — Maryland
U.S. Bankruptcy Court — Maryland

Massachusetts

U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit
U.S. District Court — Massachusetts
U.S. Bankruptcy Court — Massachusetts

Michigan

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
U.S. District Court — Eastern District of Michigan
U.S. District Court — Western District of Michigan
U.S. Bankruptcy Court — Eastern District of Michigan
U.S. Bankruptcy Court — Western District of Michigan

Minnesota

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
U.S. District Court — Minnesota
U.S. Bankruptcy Court — Minnesota

Mississippi

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
U.S. District Court — Northern District of Mississippi
U.S. District Court — Southern District of Mississippi
U.S. Bankruptcy Court — Northern District of Mississippi
U.S. Bankruptcy Court — Southern District of Mississippi

Missouri

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
U.S. District Court — Eastern District of Missouri
U.S. Bankruptcy Court — Eastern District of Missouri
U.S. Bankruptcy Court — Western District of Missouri

Montana

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
U.S. District Court — Montana
U.S. Bankruptcy Court — Montana

Nebraska

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
U.S. District Court — Nebraska
U.S. Bankruptcy Court — Nebraska

Nevada

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
U.S. District Court — Nevada
U.S. Bankruptcy Court — Nevada

New Hampshire

U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit
U.S. District Court — New Hampshire
U.S. Bankruptcy Court — New Hampshire

New Jersey

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
U.S. District Court — New Jersey
U.S. Bankruptcy Court — New Jersey

New Mexico

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit
U.S. District Court — New Mexico
U.S. Bankruptcy Court — New Mexico

New York

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
U.S. District Court — Eastern District of New York
U.S. District Court — Northern District of New York
U.S. District Court — Southern District of New York
U.S. District Court — Western District of New York
U.S. Bankruptcy Court — Eastern District of New York
U.S. Bankruptcy Court — Northern District of New York
U.S. Bankruptcy Court — Southern District of New York
U.S. Bankruptcy Court — Western District of New York

North Carolina

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
U.S. District Court — Eastern District of North Carolina
U.S. District Court — Middle District of North Carolina
U.S. District Court — Western District of North Carolina
U.S. Bankruptcy Court — Eastern District of North Carolina
U.S. Bankruptcy Court — Middle District of North Carolina
U.S. Bankruptcy Court — Western District of North Carolina

North Dakota

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
U.S. District Court — North Dakota
U.S. Bankruptcy Court — North Dakota

Northern Mariana Islands

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
U.S. District Court — Northern Mariana Islands

Ohio

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
U.S. District Court — Northern District of Ohio
U.S. District Court — Southern District of Ohio
U.S. Bankruptcy Court — Northern District of Ohio
U.S. Bankruptcy Court — Southern District of Ohio

Oklahoma

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit
U.S. District Court — Eastern District of Oklahoma
U.S. District Court — Northern District of Oklahoma
U.S. District Court — Western District of Oklahoma
U.S. Bankruptcy Court — Eastern District of Oklahoma
U.S. Bankruptcy Court — Northern District of Oklahoma
U.S. Bankruptcy Court — Western District of Oklahoma

Oregon

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
U.S. District Court — Oregon
U.S. Bankruptcy Court — Oregon

Pennsylvania

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
U.S. District Court — Eastern District of Pennsylvania
U.S. District Court — Middle District of Pennsylvania
U.S. District Court — Western District of Pennsylvania
U.S. Bankruptcy Court — Eastern District of Pennsylvania
U.S. Bankruptcy Court — Middle District of Pennsylvania
U.S. Bankruptcy Court — Western District of Pennsylvania

Puerto Rico

U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit
U.S. District Court — Puerto Rico
U.S. Bankruptcy Court — Puerto Rico

Rhode Island

U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit
U.S. District Court — Rhode Island
U.S. Bankruptcy Court — Rhode Island

South Carolina

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
U.S. District Court — South Carolina
U.S. Bankruptcy Court — South Carolina

South Dakota

U.S. District Court — South Dakota

Tennessee

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
U.S. District Court — Eastern District of Tennessee
U.S. District Court — Middle District of Tennessee
U.S. District Court — Western District of Tennessee
U.S. Bankruptcy Court — Eastern District of Tennessee
U.S. Bankruptcy Court — Middle District of Tennessee
U.S. Bankruptcy Court — Western District of Tennessee

Texas

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
U.S. District Court — Eastern District of Texas
U.S. District Court — Northern District of Texas
U.S. District Court — Southern District of Texas
U.S. District Court — Western District of Texas
U.S. Bankruptcy Court — Eastern District of Texas
U.S. Bankruptcy Court — Northern District of Texas
U.S. Bankruptcy Court — Southern District of Texas
U.S. Bankruptcy Court — Western District of Texas

Utah

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit
U.S. District Court – Utah
U.S. Bankruptcy Court – Utah

Vermont

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
U.S. District Court – Vermont
U.S. Bankruptcy Court – Vermont

Virgin Islands

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
U.S. District Court — Virgin Islands

Virginia

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
U.S. District Court — Eastern District of Virginia
U.S. District Court — Western District of Virginia
U.S. Bankruptcy Court — Eastern District of Virginia
U.S. Bankruptcy Court — Western District of Virginia

Washington

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
U.S. District Court — Eastern District of Washington
U.S. District Court — Western District of Washington
U.S. Bankruptcy Court — Eastern District of Washington
U.S. Bankruptcy Court — Western District of Washington

West Virginia

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
U.S. District Court — Northern District of West Virginia
U.S. District Court — Southern District of West Virginia
U.S. Bankruptcy Court — Northern District of West Virginia
U.S. Bankruptcy Court — Southern District of West Virginia

Wisconsin

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
U.S. District Court — Eastern District of Wisconsin
U.S. District Court — Western District of Wisconsin
U.S. Bankruptcy Court — Eastern District of Wisconsin
U.S. Bankruptcy Court — Western District of Wisconsin

Wyoming

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit
U.S. District Court – Wyoming
U.S. Bankruptcy Court – Wyoming

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Paralegal Guide: United States Federal Courts