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US Case Law
The United States Supreme Court is the highest court in the United States. Lower courts on the federal level include the US Courts of Appeals, US District Courts, the US Court of Claims, and the US Court of International Trade and US Bankruptcy Courts. Federal courts hear cases involving matters related to the United States Constitution, other federal laws and regulations, and certain matters that involve parties from different states or countries and large sums of money in dispute.
Each state has its own judicial system that includes trial and appellate courts. The highest court in each state is often referred to as the “supreme” court, although there are some exceptions to this rule, for example, the New York Court of Appeals or the Maryland Court of Appeals. State courts generally hear cases involving state constitutional matters, state law and regulations, although state courts may also generally hear cases involving federal laws. States also usually have courts that handle only a specific subset of legal matters, such as family law and probate.
Case law, also known as precedent or common law, is the body of prior judicial decisions that guide judges deciding issues before them. Depending on the relationship between the deciding court and the precedent, case law may be binding or merely persuasive. For example, a decision by the US Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit is binding on all federal district courts within the Fifth Circuit, but a court sitting in California (whether a federal or state court) is not strictly bound to follow the Fifth Circuit’s prior decision. Similarly, a decision by one district court in New York is not binding on another district court, but the original court’s reasoning might help guide the second court in reaching its decision.
Decisions by the US Supreme Court are binding on all federal and state courts.
US Federal Courts
Reported opinions from the us federal courts of appeals.
- Federal Reporter, 2nd Series (F.2d) (1924-1993)
- Federal Reporter, 3rd Series (F.3d) (1993-present)
Opinions From the US Federal Courts of Appeals
- US Court of Appeals for the First Circuit
- US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
- US Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
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- US Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
- US Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
- US Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
- US Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
- US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
- US Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit
- US Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
- US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit
- US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
- US Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces
- US Court of International Trade
- US Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court of Review
- Bankruptcy Reporter (B.R.) (1980-present)
- Federal Reporter, 2nd Series (F.2d) (1924-1932)
- Federal Supplement (F. Supp.) (1933-1998)
- Federal Supplement, 2nd Series (F. Supp. 2d) (1998-present)
- Connecticut
- District of Columbia
- Massachusetts
- Mississippi
- New Hampshire
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- West Virginia
- US District Court for the District of Guam
- US District Court for the District of Puerto Rico
- US District Court for the District of the Northern Mariana Islands
- US District Court for the District of the US Virgin Islands
- Emergency Court of Appeals (1942-1974)
- US Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims
- US Court of Claims (1855-1982)
- US Court of Customs and Patent Appeals (1909-1982)
- US Court of Federal Claims
- US Tax Court
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Recent Cases
Eldridge v. howard.
Ninth Circuit Holds that D.C. Superior Court is Not a "State Court" for Purposes of 28 U.S.C. § 2253.
Appalachian Voices v. United States Department of the Interior
Fourth Circuit Holds Congress Stripped Jurisdiction to Hear Pipeline Challenge.
Palmer v. Liberty University, Inc.
Fourth Circuit Schism Spotlights Unholy Consequences of Ministerial Exception Doctrine.
Landor v. Louisiana Department of Corrections & Public Safety
Fifth Circuit Bars Individual-Capacity Money Damages Under RLUIPA.
Pico Neighborhood Ass’n v. City of Santa Monica
California Supreme Court Interprets State Act to Expand Reach of Vote Dilution Protection.
Held v. State
Montana Court Holds that Montana Youth Can Access Equitable Relief for Climate Impacts.
Enigma Software Group USA, LLC v. Malwarebytes, Inc.
Ninth Circuit Holds that Cybersecurity Screening Decisions Are Verifiably False Under the Lanham Act.
United States v. Mackey
Eastern District of New York Convicts Internet Meme Creator for Publishing False Voting Information.
J.W. v. Paley
Fifth Circuit Rejects a Corporal Punishment Claim for Tasing by School Police Officer.
Speech First, Inc. v. Sands
Fourth Circuit Upholds University Bias Response Team Policies.
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