The Supremes and the Federal Courts

We now have a new Justice on the Supreme Court. The Justices are sometimes referred to as "The Supremes" which is not really correct, because The Supremes were a Motown singing group from the 1960s and there were only three of them.

There are 94 federal district courts, which are trial courts. Among the matters heard in the district courts are bankruptcies.

Two other federal trial courts cover the country. The Court of International Trade addresses cases involving international trade and customs issues and the United States Court of Federal Claims handles claims for money damages against the United States.

There are thirteen Circuit Courts of Appeal, eleven in various parts of the country and one in Washington, D.C., and a special court, the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, which hears suits involving trademarks, patents, or claims against the federal government. If you have an issue with a decision of a federal district court, you appeal it to the Circuit Court of Appeals in the area in which the district court lies.

The Supreme Court sits in Washington, D.C. It hears cases appealed directly to it from state courts, or cases which come from the circuits.

If you wish to have your case heard by the Supreme Court, you must file a petition for certiorari. Certiorari is a Latin word meaning "to be informed of, or to be made certain in regard to." We lawyers love to use Latin words so people will think we are smart. In Supreme Court practice, certiorari is an order to a lower court to send the case to the Supreme Court for review.

Last year more than 8,000 petitions for certiorari were filed. The Supreme Court granted certiorari in about 100 cases. It is a custom that at least four of the justices must agree to hear a case before certiorari will be granted. The court limits its review to those cases involving significant issues.

There are nine Supreme Court justices. Congress can revise the size of the Court, but hasn't done so since 1869. Historically, the number has ranged from six to ten.

Last year justices of the United States Supreme Court made $208,100. The chief justice made $217,400. The Constitution provides that the salaries of federal judges may not be reduced.