President  |  Vice President  |  First Lady  |  Mrs. Cheney  |  News & Policies 
History & ToursKids  |  Your Government  |  Appointments  |  JobsContactGraphic version


Email Updates  |  Español  |  Accessibility  |  Search  |  Privacy Policy  |  Help



Judicial Branch

The judicial branch hears cases that challenge or require interpretation of the legislation passed by Congress and signed by the President. It consists of the Supreme Court and the lower federal courts. Appointees to the federal bench serve for life or until they voluntarily resign or retire.

The Supreme Court is the most visible of all the federal courts. The number of Justices is determined by Congress rather than the Constitution, and since 1869, the Court has been composed of one Chief Justice and eight Associate Justices. Justices are nominated by the President and confirmed by the Senate.

United States Supreme Court

Federal Judicial Center

United States Federal Courts

United States Code

United States Tax Court

Public Access to Court Electronic Records
(PACER)

The United States Court of Appeals
First Circuit Fifth Circuit Eighth Circuit Eleventh Circuit
Third Circuit Sixth Circuit Ninth Circuit D.C. Circuit
Fourth Circuit Seventh Circuit Tenth Circuit Federal Circuit



Branches of Government
| Executive | Judicial | Legislative |


In Focus

More Issues more issues

News
More News more news

Major Speeches

Interact

Your Government

  |   More Offices

Appointments