The federal court that has original jurisdiction over most cases heard in federal court is the United States District Court.
Original Jurisdiction in Federal Courts
- Original jurisdiction refers to the authority of a court to hear a case for the first time, rather than on appeal.
- While the Supreme Court has original jurisdiction in a limited set of cases, such as disputes between states and cases involving ambassadors or public ministers, it primarily acts as an appellate court.
- The vast majority of federal cases begin in the federal district courts, which serve as the trial courts with original jurisdiction over cases arising under federal statutes, the Constitution, or treaties.
Role of the District Courts
- There are 94 federal district courts spread across the United States.
- These courts handle most federal cases initially, including both civil and criminal matters.
- They have jurisdiction to hear cases involving federal laws, diversity jurisdiction cases (when parties are from different states), and other matters assigned by federal statutes.
Thus, the United States District Courts hold original jurisdiction over most cases heard in federal court, acting as the primary trial courts in the federal judicial system.
