The Legal System
Sources of the Law
The Court System
Local Courts
State Trial Courts
State Appellate Courts
State Supreme Courts
U.S. District Courts
U.S. Appellate Courts
U.S. Supreme Court
Other Federal Courts
Administrative Courts and Hearings
Selecting a Lawyer
Alternatives to Trial
Civil Cases
Filing a Lawsuit
Trials
Collecting Judgments
Causes of Action
The Court System
The court system in the United States operates on a national, state and local level. Lawsuits are filed in certain courts at different levels depending on the type of case and the amount of money involved. For example, a case involving injuries to a person by police officers could be filed in federal court because civil rights under the U.S. Constitution are an issue.