Federal Courts Vocab

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The requirement that plaintiffs have a serious interest in a case, which depends on whether they have sustained or are likely to sustain a direct and substantial injury from another party or from an action of government.

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standing to sue

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Lawsuits in which a small number of people sue on behalf of all people in similar circumstances.

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class action lawsuits

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Issues capable of being settled as a matter of law.

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justiciable disputes

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Legal briefs submitted by a “friend of the court” for the purpose of influencing a court’s decision by raising additional points of view and presenting information not contained in the briefs of the formal parties.

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amicus curiae

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The jurisdiction of courts that hear a case first, usually in a trial. These are the courts that determine the facts about a case.

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original jurisdiction

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The jurisdiction of courts that hear cases brought to them on appeal from lower courts. These courts do not review the factual record, only the legal issues involved.

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appellate jurisdiction

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The 91 federal courts of original jurisdiction. They are the only federal courts in which trials are held and in which juries may be impaneled.

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district courts

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Appellate courts empowered to review all final decisions of district courts, except in rare cases. In addition, they also hear appeals to orders of many federal regulatory agencies.

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courts of appeals

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The pinnacle of the American judicial system. The Court ensures uniformity in interpreting national laws, resolves conflicts among states, and maintains national supremacy in law. It has both original jurisdiction and appellate jurisdiction.

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Supreme Court

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An unwritten tradition whereby nominations for state-level federal judicial posts are usually not confirmed if they are opposed by a senator of the president’s party from the state in which the nominee will serve. The tradition also applies to courts of appeals when there is opposition from a senator of the president’s party who is from the nominee’s state.

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senatorial courtesy