Final answer:
The Solicitor General is in charge of federal appellate litigation, presenting cases to the U.S. Supreme Court, which is the final appellate court. The U.S. courts of appeals review decisions from the lower district courts before they may reach the Supreme Court. Federal judges and justices are nominated by the President and confirmed by Congress, serving for life.
Step-by-step explanation:
The individual who oversees the appellate court litigation of the federal government is known as the Solicitor General. This official represents the federal government before the U.S. Supreme Court, determining which cases to appeal from the lower courts and personally approving each case presented to the Supreme Court.
Approximately two-thirds of the cases brought before the Supreme Court involve the federal government, and the Solicitor General's decisions often influence these cases' outcomes. The federal judicial system, comprising the district courts, U.S. courts of appeals, and the Supreme Court, operates on a three-tiered structure where decisions from lower courts can be appealed up to the Supreme Court, the ultimate appellate authority.
Furthermore, the U.S. courts of appeals, or circuit courts, play a critical intermediate role, reviewing district court rulings. There are thirteen circuit courts, including the D.C. circuit and the federal circuit, and these courts are presided over by a panel of three judges.
These intermediate appellate courts often serve as a precursor to Supreme Court review, especially in instances where different circuits provide diverging opinions on similar legal issues. It is the Supreme Court's role to resolve such discrepancies and set uniform precedents for the entire judicial system.
Finally, federal judges, including those on the Supreme Court and courts of appeals, are nominated by the President and confirmed by Congress, serving lifetime appointments. This allows the President to exert a lasting influence on the judiciary.