How do federal and state courts differ?
In general, federal courts may decide cases that involve the US government, the US Constitution or federal laws, or controversies between states or between the US and foreign governments. A case also may be filed in federal court if it involves residents of different states, or US citizens and those of another country, although only cases involving more than $75,000 in potential damages may be filed in a federal court. By federal law, federal courts also have jurisdiction over all bankruptcy matters. But the great majority of legal disputes in American courts are addressed in the separate state court systems under state law. For example, state courts have jurisdiction over virtually all divorce and child custody matters, probate and inheritance issues, real estate questions, and juvenile matters, and they handle most criminal cases, contract disputes, traffic violations, and personal injury cases. How many federal judges are there? There are 735 federal district judgeships, 210 seats o
