This research presents an overview of the criminal court system in the United States including both federal and state level courts. The Massachusetts court system is reviewed for the purpose of discussing state level courts. Both federal and state level court systems in the United States are organized into the two primary classifications trial courts and appellate courts. The trial courts, particularly at the state level, are characterized by multiple divisions based upon legal function, jurisdiction, character of the offense, and so forth. The appellate courts are differentiated as intermediate appeals courts and courts of last resort. In this overview of the criminal court system in the United States, federal and state level systems are considered separately. The trial and appellate classifications, together with the sub classifications of those elements of the criminal court system are reviewed in relation to both federal and state level court systems. Lastly, the discussions of the federal and state level court systems are concerned with criminal justice. Most of the courts discussed also hear civil cases, and the fact that civil jurisdictions and responsibilities are not addressed in these discussions is not to be taken to mean that the courts discussed have no such jurisdictions and responsibilities.
The trial courts in the federal system are the United States district courts. There are two types of federal district courts those with both federal and local jurisdiction and those with only federal jurisdiction. Federal district courts have jurisdiction over cases involving the violation of federal laws such as kidnapping, carjacking, civil rights, and so forth. Federal district courts with both federal and state jurisdiction may also hear criminal cases in which the federal government is a party to a suit.
Federal trial courts also include administrative quasi judicial agencies, such as the United States Tax Cour...