Final answer:
The U.S. District Courts are the trial courts of the federal system that handle cases involving violations of federal laws. There are ninety-four of these courts spread across the states and territories, with at least one court in every state, and they deal with a wide range of criminal and civil cases, including those involving interstate commerce, civil rights, and other federal issues.
Step-by-step explanation:
Federal Trial Courts in the U.S. Judicial System
The trial courts of the federal system are the U.S. District Courts. They have jurisdiction over cases that involve violations of federal laws. These could include criminal cases such as interstate transportation of stolen vehicles, kidnappings, and other federal offenses like civil rights abuses. Additionally, they hear civil cases such as employment discrimination or securities fraud. Federal courts may also preside over cases involving interstate commerce, disputes involving foreign governments, as well as matters pertaining to maritime law, bankruptcy, or a controversy between states.
Within the fifty states and U.S. territories, there are ninety-four U.S. District Courts. Each state has at least one District Court, and no court's jurisdiction crosses state lines. A single judge oversees these courts, and cases may be heard by either a jury or just the judge. Moreover, cases from these trial courts can be appealed to the higher courts, including the U.S. Court of Appeals and potentially the U.S. Supreme Court.
Other specialized federal trial courts include the Court of International Trade and the Court of Federal Claims, which have more focused jurisdictions. Law matters that cross the boundaries of state and federal courtroom jurisdiction, such as civil rights cases invoking the U.S. Constitution, could be heard in either or both court systems.