Some people think that District Courts like district attorney placer county are where you go to handle criminal cases. Others believe they are more administrative in nature and handle civil matters, such as small claims and landlord/tenant disputes. The truth is, District Courts don’t have a clear definition because they’re part of the federal government’s court system. Most use a mix of traditional courtroom proceedings and administrative procedures that rely on rules approved by Congress. There may be over 100 million cases per year! In some cases these courts are even called upon to decide constitutional issues or interpret complicated statutes passed by Congress.
1. District Courts are not federal courts in the traditional sense.
They don’t have a clear definition because they’re part of the federal government’s court system. Almost all cases are heard by a single judge, either in person or using technology like video conferencing. District judges are nominated by the President and confirmed by the Senate for life terms. Just like members of Congress, district judges earn an annual salary of $174,000 plus benefits .
2. The district courts are organized into 13 districts
Which each have at least one court and more than one district can be combined to form multi-district litigation. There is a Central District for the Districts for California, Hawaii, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands.
3. The District Courts were created by Congress
After the Constitution was ratified in 1789, there were fears that state courts might not meet the needs of the new federal government. In response, Congress passed the Judiciary Act of 1789 to establish a “federal judicial district” for each state. There were 13 districts at first but states were divided and combined to form multi-district litigation as mentioned earlier.
4. District Courts are where most federal cases are heard
There may be over 100 million cases per year! District courts handle everything from personal injury and bankruptcy to large-scale civil rights lawsuits and criminal prosecutions involving white collar crimes, like fraud and embezzlement.
5. District Courts do more than just decide cases
Some even use methods such as mediation to resolve disputes without traditional litigation. This practice is called Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR). District courts are often asked to decide constitutional issues or interpret complicated statutes passed by Congress.
6. The most common civil case heard by a district court
Is a personal injury lawsuit at about 1 million cases per year (there were over 6 million total in 2011). The most common criminal prosecution is drug law violation at 180,000 cases (11 percent of the total) annually. In some districts, the most common criminal prosecution is white collar crime.
7. District Court judges can be found throughout the country
District courts are located in all states, but are geographically decentralized. The most common areas have five or fewer judges. The most common system is to have one judge for each state, though some states, such as California and Oregon, use a combination of judges and court systems.
8. The new District Court building is in Washington D.C.
The U.S. Courthouse for the District of Columbia was dedicated on September 10, 1975 and houses the main office of the West Wing of the Federal Government (all executive agencies), with over 500 rooms and 160 courtroom spaces within a complex that covers 22 acres of land on K Street Northwest in downtown Washington D.C.. Although it is not a federal judicial district, the United States Courthouse for the District of Columbia does sit on land once owned by George Washington, now occupied by the White House. The building was designed by William Alexander Milburn and is perhaps best known for being the last surviving structure designed by Frank Lloyd Wright before his death in 1959. The exterior features such touches as a distinctive undulating pavement crowning the granite walls.
9. Federal courts may be housed in their own complex or in other buildings
District Court judges have done this as well to handle over 100 million cases annually, so it’s not uncommon to have many different buildings throughout a district. The buildings are often constructed with federal funds and are used by most of the districts.
10. District Courts have a wide variety of staff
Administrative, legal and support personnel provide an array of services to help process cases efficiently. There may be over a thousand people working for a district court in D.C., with administrative employees being the largest category at about 740 people. The U.S. Marshal’s Service also employs numerous law enforcement personnel to serve warrants, conduct investigations and protect witnesses in District Court proceedings around the country in order to assist District Court judges in their duties.
Summary:
What are the District Courts?
What’s the difference between District Courts, Circuit Courts, and Court of Federal Claims?
Are District Court judges appointed for life?
How do District Court judges make money?
What is the current population of judges in each district?
What are some common types of cases heard in a District Court?
What is a federal complex like Washington D.C. ‘s U.S. Courthouse for the District of Columbia like to visit?
