The separation of the judicial power between the national level and the state level is a direct result of federalism (a) in the United States.
Federalism means that sovereignty (or power) is divided between the state governments and the federal government. The courts system is an example of this.
- There are 94 district-level courts in the United States.
- A lawsuit can be taken to the next level, the Courts of Appeal, if it is not certain that the verdict ruled in the District Court corresponded to the law. These 12 courts are the intermediary between the state and federal levels.
- Above the Courts of Appeal, at the national level, is the Supreme Court.
