District court is the court in which most federal cases are first heard in the United States. The district court ranks below the court of appeals. In a district court, questions of fact are decided by a jury, or, if the parties wish, by a judge. The first full hearing of a case is called a trial, and the district court is called a trial court. The district court decides on the truth of contested events, and its decision on the facts of a case is final. But the rules of law used by the court may be reviewed by a higher court, on appeal. The appeal is usually to one of the Courts of Appeals. The Supreme Court of the United States may review a Court of Appeals decision.
There are about 95 district courts in the United States and its possessions. Each court has one or more judges, and one United States attorney. There are several hundred permanent district court judges. Each is appointed for life by the President, subject to U.S. Senate approval. The courts hear most federal criminal cases, as well as civil suits arising under postal, patent, copyright, and internal revenue laws.
See also Court of appeals; Court (Federal courts).
