What are the Appeals Courts and Appellate Procedure?
The Federal Appellate Structure United States Court of Appeals The federal appellate system consists of 13 federal circuits, each of which has one appellate court, called a court of appeals, and the United States Supreme Court. Within each of the federal circuits are several federal district courts that serve as trial courts for issues of federal concern. Parties who are dissatisfied with the outcome of a district court case have the right to appeal to the court of appeals encompassing that district. Minnesota is located in the Eighth Circuit. The United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit usually sits in St. Louis, Missouri. Minnesota has one federal district courts, in St. Paul, Minnesota. A case heard in St. Paul federal district court would be appealed to the Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit. United States Supreme Court The United States Supreme Court hears some cases that are appealed “as of right.” Mandatory appeals to the Supreme Court are made only in cases de
