What are "federal courts"?

Federal courts are courts established by the federal government specifically to adjudicate matters of federal law. This means that their primary role is to hear cases that involve issues arising under the Constitution, federal statutes, and treaties. Federal courts include different levels, such as district courts, appellate courts, and the Supreme Court of the United States, each serving distinct functions within the judicial system.

This structure allows federal courts to handle cases that may have national significance or interstate implications, ensuring uniformity in the application of federal law across the United States. Unlike state courts, which deal with state laws and local issues, federal courts operate under the jurisdiction granted by the Constitution and federal legislation.

Other options, while they may pertain to aspects of the judicial system, do not accurately define federal courts. For example, courtrooms managed by private organizations or courts handling local ordinances relate to private or state matters, respectively, rather than federal issues. State courts with federal jurisdiction typically refer to the limited circumstances under which state courts can hear certain cases that might also fall under federal law, but this does not define them as federal courts.