The american court system is hierarchical which means any discussion of it cries out for a representation. 2. the trial courts have original jurisdiction. when you realize there are 50 states, each with its own court system, it shouldn't be a surprise that the vast majority of cases start out in courts.: the trial courts have original jurisdiction. when you realize there are 50 states, each with its own court system, it shouldn't be a surprise that the vast majority of cases start out in courts. 3. on the federal side, the trial courts are the u. s. district courts. there are of them with 663 judges, more or less. sometimes in civil cases a plaintiff, the person bringing the case, will have a choice of whether to bring that case in state or federal court.: on the federal side, the trial courts are the u. s. district courts. there are of them with 663 judges, more or less. sometimes in civil cases a plaintiff, the person bringing the case, will have a choice of whether to bring that case in state or federal court. 4. federal appeals courts are called circuit courts and there are of them distributed regionally throughout the u. s: federal appeals courts are called circuit courts and there are of them distributed regionally throughout the u. s 5. most of the time, the supreme court has appellate jurisdiction. in fact, it's the final court of appeals. if you lose there, you really lost. when the court hears a case it's called : most of the time, the supreme court has appellate jurisdiction. in fact, it's the final court of appeals. if you lose there, you really lost. when the court hears a case it's called 6. but most of the time, cases that make it to the supreme court are there on appeal. in order for the court to exercise its appellate jurisdiction, the case must raise a question. for example one involving due process or equal protection, or an important federal statute.: but most of the time, cases that make it to the supreme court are there on appeal. in order for the court to exercise its appellate jurisdiction, the case must raise a question. for example one involving due process or equal protection, or an important federal statute. 7. the second hurdle a potential supreme court litigant has to get over is called - this means that in order to bring a case, the parties must have a substantial stake in the outcome, which usually means an actual injury.: the second hurdle a potential supreme court litigant has to get over is called - this means that in order to bring a case, the parties must have a substantial stake in the outcome, which usually means an actual injury. 8. there's also a vague decision rule called the political question doctrine. in some cases the court would rather let the executive or branch handle the issue and not get involved.: there's also a vague decision rule called the political question doctrine. in some cases the court would rather let the executive or branch handle the issue and not get involved. 9. the supreme court will usually take a case that has a clear constitutional question like one involving freedom of or religion, although there are sometimes constitutional issues that they feel are settled, or they just don't want to deal with.: the supreme court will usually take a case that has a clear constitutional question like one involving freedom of or religion, although there are sometimes constitutional issues that they feel are settled, or they just don't want to deal with. column b a. judicial review b. federal c. 14 d. 12 e. legislative f. visual g. state h. 94 i. speech j. standing