FEDERAL COURT

the United States courts (distinguished from the courts of the individual states), including district courts (general courts of original jurisdiction, which are the federal trial courts), courts of appeals (formerly circuit courts of appeals, which are principally appellate review courts), and the Supreme Court (the only court created directly by the constitution, and the court of last resort in the federal system). Other specialized courts in the federal system are court of claims (hears suits involving allowable claims against the United States government), COURT OF CUSTOMS AND PATENT APPEALS (reviews customs court decisions), and CUSTOMS COURT (reviews decision of the customs collectors). Source: Barron's Dictionary of Legal Terms, Steven H. Gifis, 5th Edition; © 2016