Overview
The United States District Courts are the general trial courts of the federal judiciary. They are where most federal cases begin — from civil rights actions and antitrust suits to criminal prosecutions and immigration proceedings. Each state has at least one federal district, and some larger states have up to four. District courts are the only federal courts where witnesses testify, juries render verdicts, and judges make findings of fact.
District courts handle both civil and criminal cases. In civil cases, they exercise jurisdiction based on federal question jurisdiction (cases arising under the Constitution, federal statutes, or treaties) and diversity jurisdiction (cases between citizens of different states where the amount in controversy exceeds $75,000). In criminal cases, they try offenses against federal law, from white-collar fraud to drug trafficking to violations of civil rights statutes.
District judges preside over trials, rule on pretrial motions (including motions to dismiss, motions for summary judgment, and discovery disputes), manage complex litigation, and impose sentences in criminal cases. They are assisted by magistrate judges, who handle a range of duties including initial appearances in criminal cases, pretrial conferences, discovery motions, and, with the consent of the parties, may even preside over civil trials and enter final judgments.
The district courts also serve as the initial forum for habeas corpus petitions by state prisoners, bankruptcy proceedings (through the bankruptcy courts attached to each district), and certain specialized proceedings like civil forfeiture actions and admiralty cases.
Jurisdiction
Federal district courts have original jurisdiction over cases arising under federal law (federal question jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1331) and cases between citizens of different states with more than $75,000 in controversy (diversity jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1332). They also have exclusive jurisdiction over federal criminal prosecutions, bankruptcy proceedings, admiralty and maritime cases, patent and copyright infringement actions, and cases involving federal agencies. District courts can exercise supplemental jurisdiction over state-law claims that are part of the same case or controversy as a federal claim. Cases initially filed in state court may be removed to federal district court if they could have originally been filed there.
Composition
There are 94 federal judicial districts organized into 12 regional circuits (plus the D.C. Circuit). Each district has at least one authorized judgeship, with larger districts having many more — the Southern District of New York, for example, has 44 authorized judgeships. District judges are nominated by the President and confirmed by the Senate, serving during good behavior. Each district also has magistrate judges, who are appointed by the district judges for renewable eight-year terms (full-time) or four-year terms (part-time). Senior judges who have taken semi-retirement continue to hear cases on a reduced load.
How Cases Get Here
Cases arrive in district court through the filing of a complaint (in civil cases) or an indictment or information (in criminal cases). A plaintiff files a civil action in the district where the defendant resides, where the events giving rise to the claim occurred, or where the defendant is subject to personal jurisdiction. Criminal cases are brought by the U.S. Attorney's office for the district and must generally be filed in the district where the crime was committed. Cases can also be removed from state court to federal district court by defendants who believe the case falls within federal jurisdiction. Additionally, cases may be transferred between districts for convenience or consolidated through multidistrict litigation (MDL) proceedings.
Key Facts
Number of Districts
94 (at least 1 per state, plus D.C., Puerto Rico, and territories)
Total Authorized Judgeships
Approximately 677 active district judges
Magistrate Judges
Approximately 534 full-time magistrate judges
Civil Cases Filed Annually
~280,000
Criminal Cases Filed Annually
~80,000
Diversity Jurisdiction Threshold
$75,000 amount in controversy
Established
1789 by the Judiciary Act
Important to Know
- District courts are the only federal courts that conduct jury trials — appellate courts review the record but do not hear live testimony.
- Diversity jurisdiction requires complete diversity under Strawbridge v. Curtiss — no plaintiff can be a citizen of the same state as any defendant.
- Magistrate judges can conduct full civil trials and enter final judgments, but only with the consent of all parties.
- The Southern District of New York (SDNY) and the District of Delaware are particularly prominent for securities litigation and corporate cases, respectively.
- Multidistrict litigation (MDL) allows the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation to consolidate related cases from multiple districts for coordinated pretrial proceedings.
- Federal district courts apply the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure and the Federal Rules of Evidence, supplemented by local rules specific to each district.
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