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Dominican University Home
The Rebecca Crown Library provides resources & services in harmony with the mission of Dominican University.

Judicial Resources

United States Courts

Provides links to the four U.S. courts:
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Supreme Court
At its discretion, and within certain guidelines established by Congress, the Supreme Court each year hears a limited number of the cases it is asked to decide. Those cases may begin in the federal or state courts, and they usually involve important questions about the Constitution or federal law. The bound copy is the final authority for Supreme Court decision.

Court of Appeals

The 94 U.S. judicial districts are organized into 12 regional circuits, each of which has a United States court of appeals. A court of appeals hears appeals from the district courts located within its circuit, as well as appeals from decisions of federal administrative agencies. In addition, the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit has nationwide jurisdiction to hear appeals in specialized cases, such as those involving patent laws and cases decided by the Court of International Trade and the Court of Federal Claims.

District Courts
The United States district courts are the trial courts of the federal court system. Within limits set by Congress and the Constitution, the district courts have jurisdiction to hear nearly all categories of federal cases, including both civil and criminal matters.

Bankruptcy Courts
Each of the 94 federal judicial districts handles bankruptcy matters, and in almost all districts, bankruptcy cases are filed in the bankruptcy court. Bankruptcy cases cannot be filed in state court

Related non-government law resources:


FindLaw
FindLaw is the highest-trafficked legal Web site, providing the most comprehensive set of legal resources on the Internet for legal professionals, corporate counsel, law students, businesses, and consumers. These resources include Web search utilities, cases and codes, legal news, an online career center, and community-oriented tools, such as a secure document management utility, e-mail newsletters, and message boards.

Legal Information Institute

The “ Law about” section offers a wide array of articles and related works on the law.  Also includes sections on the constitution and codes, and court opinions. 

“As a student I wanted an intimate community. As an aspiring journalist I wanted a big city. Dominican gave me both—and so much more.”

Tracie Samantha
Schmidt
2005
TIME Magazine

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