What is the difference between federal district and appellate courts?
The difference between the federal district and appellate courts is that the district courts are known as trial-level courts, or courts of original jurisdiction. Almost all legal matters begin in these courts, and it is here that both civil and criminal trials are held. It is during these trials that evidence is presented and witnesses called. If a jury is present, the jury decides the facts of the case while the judge decides issues of law. If there is no jury, then the judge decides both issues of fact and of law. If a party—with the exception of the prosecution in a criminal case where the defendant has been found not guilty—is dissatisfied with the decision rendered by the U.S. District Court, he/she may appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals. No new evidence is collected during the appeals process. Parties to an appeal usually file briefs with the court outlining their case. Although some cases are decided on the basis of written briefs alone, many cases are selected by the c
