Difference between federal and state courts

Difference between federal and state courts: In the United States of America, the federal courts interpret the Constitution and federal laws. On the other hand, the state courts interpret state laws and constitutions. State courts are the courts of general jurisdiction. It means they hear all the cases which are not specifically assigned to the federal courts. The federal courts are the supreme judiciary body in the USA that resolves the conflicts between two or more provinces.

In this article, we are going to discuss the difference between federal and state courts of the USA in detail with their thorough specifications and powers.

Difference between federal and state courts

Federal Court Definition

In the United States, federal courts are those courts that have limited jurisdiction. They can only hear cases authorized by the Constitution or federal statutes. They are courts established by the federal government and have jurisdiction over questions of federal law.

Federal Court Cases Examples

Here are the federal court examples as mentioned below. In the federal courts below mentioned types of cases are heard:

• Cases dealing with the constitutionality of a law.
• Cases involving the laws and treaties of the U.S.
• Cases involving ambassadors and public ministers.
• Disputes between two or more states.
• Admiralty law.
• Bankruptcy cases.
• Habeas corpus issues.

State Court Definition

State courts serve as the final arbiters of state laws and constitutions. Their interpretation of federal law or the U.S. Constitution may be appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court. The Supreme Court has the discretion to choose whether or not to hear such cases.

State Court Cases Examples

Here are the state courts examples as mentioned below. In the state courts below mentioned types of cases are heard:

• Most criminal cases.
• Probate cases involving wills and estates.
• Most contract cases.
• Tort cases (personal injuries).
• Family law cases (marriages, divorces, adoptions), etc.

Difference Between Federal and State Courts

The state courts handle a large number of cases and maintain more contact with the public. On the other side, federal courts hear a few cases mostly those that have national importance. Let us discuss the difference between federal and state courts in detail.

Feature	Federal Courts in the USA	State Courts in the USA
Jurisdiction	Limited jurisdiction over the federal law issues.	Broad jurisdiction over the state laws and related issues.
Cases Heard	Cases involves the federal laws, constitutional issues, cases between citizens of different states (diversity jurisdiction), bankruptcy. Most of the cases involve with the United States government.	Cases involving particularly the state laws including criminal, family, contract, property, and tort law.
Judges	Appointed by the President of USA, confirmed by the Senate. He serves the lifetime tenure as a Judge.	Judges are appointed or elected according to state laws. Their terms may vary.
Structure	Hierarchical structure of the federal courts includes the district courts, circuit courts of appeals, and the Supreme Court.	Structure of the state court may vary by state but majorly consists with the trial courts, appellate courts, and a state supreme court.
Appeals Process	Appeals usually proceed to the circuit courts of appeals and may eventually reach the Supreme Court.	Appeals usually proceed to intermediate appellate courts and may eventually reach the state supreme court.
Jury Composition	Juries are selected from a broad geographic area and may be more diverse.	Juries are typically selected from within the state or county. It depends on the court’s jurisdiction.
Legal Precedent Binding	Binding precedent across all federal courts.	Binding precedent within the state but not across different states.
Application of Law	Federal law applies uniformly across all states.	State law applies only within the state’s jurisdiction.
Resources and Caseload	Federal courts have more resources and handle a smaller caseload.	State courts may have varying resources and often handle a larger caseload.
Role in the Legal System	Interpret federal laws, resolve disputes involving federal government, uphold the U.S. Constitution.	Interpret state laws, resolve disputes within the state, uphold state constitution.

Read More: Preamble of the US Constitution

Establishment of State and Federal Courts

The Federal Court System in the United States was enacted into law by President George Washington on September 24th, 1789. Federal courts operate under the authority of the Constitution and federal statutes, whereas state courts are established according to the constitution and laws of each individual state.

• State and local courts are established by each state with the local courts. These courts are created by the cities, counties, and other municipal bodies. These courts handle a wide range of legal matters within the state’s jurisdiction.
• Federal courts are generally established under the U.S. Constitution. They are responsible for resolving disputes concerning the Constitution itself and laws enacted by Congress at the federal level.

Read More: What is Legal Right? – Types of Rights, Protection, International Rights

Jurisdiction of State and Federal Courts

The Jurisdiction defines the major difference between the federal and state courts in the USA. Here the Jurisdiction means the kinds of cases on them they work on.

• State courts have broad jurisdiction. They cover the cases such as robberies, traffic violations, broken contracts, and family disputes.
• Exceptions of the state courts may include lawsuits against the United States and specific federal laws like criminal, antitrust, bankruptcy, patent, copyright, and some maritime cases.
• Federal court jurisdiction is limited to cases listed in the Constitution and specified by Congress.
• Federal courts works on the cases involving the United States, violations of the U.S. Constitution or federal laws (federal-question jurisdiction), cases between citizens of different states with a controversy exceeding $75,000 (diversity jurisdiction), and bankruptcy, copyright, patent, and maritime law cases.
• In certain situations, both federal and state courts may have same jurisdiction. Some parties are allowed to choose whether to pursue their case in state court or federal court.

Read More: Difference Between Common Law and Civil Law

Criminal Cases in State and Federal Courts

Let us discuss about the trials od criminal cases in State and Federal Courts as mentioned below:

• Most criminal cases involve the violations of state law and they are tried in state court.
• Criminal cases involving federal laws can only be tried in federal court.
• State laws determine what constitutes a crime like robbery.
• The definition of federal laws are limited, such as robbing a federally insured bank.
• Other federal crimes include importing illegal drugs, interstate drug trafficking, and mail fraud.
• Crimes committed on federal property, like national parks or military reservations, are prosecuted in federal court.

Read More: Do Laws Apply To All?

Overlapping Powers of the Federal and the State Courts

We can see some overlapping situation between the federal and state courts as mentioned below:

• Federal courts may handle cases involving state laws if the issue pertains to whether the state law violates the federal Constitution.
• For instance, if a state law prohibits animal slaughter outside specific areas and a neighborhood association sues an individual for sacrificing goats in his backyard, resulting in a state court injunction, the defendant might challenge the state law’s constitutionality in federal court, citing it as an infringement on religious freedom.
• Certain actions are deemed illegal under both federal and state laws, such as employment discrimination.
• Federal laws prohibit employment discrimination, and states have their own laws on the matter.
• Individuals can file cases in either federal or state courts based on federal law or both federal and state laws.
• However, cases solely involving state laws must be filed exclusively in state courts.

Read More: Preamble of the US Constitution

Selection of Judges of the Federal and the State Courts

Here are the major differences of the selection of Judges of the Federal and the State Courts as mentioned below:

Aspects	The Federal Court System	The State Court System
Selection Of Judges	Nomination by the President and confirmation by the Senate, as outlined in the Constitution. Judges hold office during good behavior, typically serving for life. Federal judges may be removed from office for misbehavior through Congressional impeachment proceedings.	Judges in state courts are selected through various methods, including: Election Appointment for a specified term of years Appointment for life Combinations of these methods, such as appointment followed by election.

Read More: US Bill of Rights

Advantages and Disadvantages of Federal Vs State Court

Here are major advantages and disadvantages of the of Federal Court and State Court as mentioned below:

Advantages of Federal Court

• Federal court is faster than the state court.
• The uniformity is the major advantage of federal courts’ handling of cases.
• All documents can be filed electronically in PDF format on a system called Case Management/Electronic Case Files (CM/ECF).
• Federal courts are Less expensive in nature.

Advantages of State Court

• State courts have broad jurisdiction.
• They can hear cases that individual citizens are most likely to be involved.
• State courts take jurisdiction of federal cases without express statutory language calling for state jurisdiction.
• State courts routinely assist federal agencies pursuant to non-statutory obligations.

Disadvantages of Federal Court

• Federal court requires unanimous agreement from all 12 jurors for a verdict, compared to only nine in state court.
• Federal court imposes stricter deadlines, increasing the likelihood of cases being terminated due to missed deadlines.
• Due to procedural disparities, cases in federal court typically endure longer durations than those in state court.
• State courtrooms may schedule multiple trials in a day, a practice avoided in federal court.

Disadvantages of State Court

• Court hearings can span months. It requires multiple attempts to reach a judge, leading to delays.
• The process is often impersonal, potentially straining relationships involved.
• Courts frequently lack resources to enforce policies aligned with their decisions.
• Strict deadlines in state courts can lead to missed opportunities and case closures.
• Trials in state courts commonly face multiple continuations before proceeding.

Similarities Between Federal and State Courts

• Both federal and state courts adjudicate legal disputes only within their respective jurisdictions.
• They both have hierarchies of courts that includes the trial courts and appellate courts.
• Both federal and state courts are responsible for interpreting and applying the law.
• Both types of courts ensure due process and the protection of individuals’ rights during legal proceedings.

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FAQs on Difference Between Federal and State Courts

How do state and federal courts differ in the United States?

State courts handle by far the larger number of cases, and have more contact with the public than federal courts do. Although the federal courts hear far fewer cases than the state courts, the cases they do hear tend more often to be of national importance. Think of the court cases you have heard the most about.

What is one major difference between state and federal courts in the United States quizlet?

State courts try cases between citizens of a state, while federal courts try disputes between states.

What is the difference between state and federal jurisdiction in criminal law?

Federal courts have jurisdiction over federal crimes, and state courts have jurisdiction over state crimes.

Do all states have a federal court?

The United States federal courts is the system of courts organized under the United States Constitution and laws of the federal government. Each state contains one or more U.S. District Courts, or trial courts.

What is one major difference between state and federal courts in the United States apex?

State courts have jurisdiction over state law, whereas federal courts have jurisdiction over federal law. Federal courts also have jurisdiction over certain types of cases, such as cases involving constitutional issues and cases between citizens of different states.