The Supreme Court primarily hears appeals from which federal courts?

The Supreme Court primarily hears appeals from the federal courts of appeals, also called the circuit courts.

These appellate courts sit between federal district courts, which conduct trials, and the Supreme Court, which is the nation’s highest federal court. The Supreme Court usually reviews circuit-court decisions through petitions for a writ of certiorari rather than hearing appeals automatically.

The federal appellate system has 13 circuits: 11 numbered regional circuits, the District of Columbia Circuit, and the Federal Circuit. The regional circuits handle cases from designated states and territories, while the Federal Circuit has nationwide jurisdiction over specialized subjects such as patents and certain federal claims.

District courts are the most common source of federal cases, but their decisions normally reach the Supreme Court only after review by a court of appeals. The Supreme Court also hears some cases from state high courts and has limited original jurisdiction, especially disputes between states.