Final answer:
The Supreme Court, which consists of nine justices, is the highest court in the United States with both original and appellate jurisdiction. Justices are nominated by the president and confirmed by the Senate. Lower courts include district and circuit courts in the federal system, while state systems have their own Supreme Court and various levels of appellate and trial courts.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Supreme Court of the United States has nine justices: one chief justice and eight associate justices. This court is unique because it is the only federal court to have both original and appellate jurisdiction. The justices of the Supreme Court are not elected by citizens; they are nominated by the president and need to be confirmed by the Senate. Besides the Supreme Court, the national court system also includes district and circuit courts, known as the lower courts.
State courts also have their own systems, which include state Supreme Courts, appellate courts, and trial courts handling a variety of cases. These state courts typically handle more cases than the federal courts, as most legal matters fall under state jurisdiction. The Michigan Supreme Court, for example, has seven justices who are elected and serve eight-year terms, whereas their Court of Appeals has nine judges with six-year terms.
Almost all cases come to the U.S. Supreme Court on appeal from lower courts such as the U.S. Court of Appeals or a state Supreme Court. To be heard, a writ of certiorari, which is a request for judicial review, must be granted. This requires an agreement from at least four of the nine justices.