In the United States, the judicial system comprises of both federal and state courts. Each court has its own jurisdiction, or authority, in deciding cases. When a case is heard in a federal court, the decision may be subject to further review by a higher court. Understanding the different levels of jurisdiction can help determine which court has the authority to review the decision.
Understanding Jurisdiction
The jurisdiction of a court is the authority it has to hear and decide cases. Federal courts have jurisdiction to decide cases that involve federal laws, or disputes between citizens of different states. State courts have jurisdiction to decide cases that involve state laws and disputes between citizens of the same state.
The U.S. Supreme Court is the highest court in the federal court system. It is the court of last resort, meaning it has the final say in any federal court case. The Supreme Court is the only court that can review a decision made by a federal court.
Federal Court Review Process
When a case is heard in a federal court, it is decided by a judge or a jury. If either party is not satisfied with the court’s decision, they may appeal to a higher court. In the federal court system, cases are appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals. The Court of Appeals has the authority to review the decision made by the lower court and may overturn or modify it.
If the party is still not satisfied with the decision, they may appeal to the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court has the authority to review the decision made by the Court of Appeals and may overturn or modify it. The Supreme Court is the final authority in any case heard in a federal court.
In the U.S. judicial system, the federal court system is the highest court of authority. Decisions made by federal courts may be subject to further review by the U.S. Supreme Court, the highest court in the federal court system. Understanding the different levels of jurisdiction can help determine which court has the authority to review the decision.
In a legal system based on precedent and stare decisis, when a federal court decision is challenged, there are several options as to which court might assume jurisdiction over further review of the decision.
Before a court other than the federal court may take jurisdiction over the case, it must be established that the federal court would have no jurisdiction in the matter. Additionally, the higher court must have some form of jurisdiction to review the decision.
In general, the first level of judicial review of a decision issued by a federal court is by the court of appeals. An appeal of a decision issued in a lower federal court would involve the court of appeals in the circuit in which the lower court sits. This is the normal process of appeal from the circuit court to the court of appeals.
It is also possible for a court of appeals to assume jurisdiction over a decision issued by a district court, such as if the case originates in a different circuit, or if the statute under which the case was decided does not present an issue of law that the court of appeals typically reviews. In some instances, the court of appeals may refer the matter to the district court to issue an opinion on the matter, which may then be appealed to the court of appeals for review.
In the event that a court of appeals does not accept jurisdiction over a matter and the Supreme Court declines to accept jurisdiction, the decision of the lower court may stand. This is especially true in cases where the Supreme Court denied certiorari (the option to hear the case) after being presented with the facts and arguments in an appeal.
In rare cases, the Supreme Court may grant “certiorari as a matter of right” which would grant the Supreme Court jurisdiction over the matter without requiring an appeal from the lower court.
Ultimately, the question of which court has the jurisdiction to review a federal court decision is determined by looking to the facts of the case, the reasons for the challenge, and the authority of the courts involved. Depending on the specifics of the case, the jurisdiction for further review of a federal court decision may rest in either a court of appeals or the Supreme Court.
