What is the Difference Between Circuit Court and District Court?

The main difference between circuit court and district court lies in their functions and the types of cases they handle.

District Court:

• District courts are "lower" courts and have the responsibility for holding trials.
• They handle both civil and criminal cases, including divorce cases, felonies, and issues involving diversity and voter rights.
• District courts provide sentencing and issue penalties.
• They are the starting point for any case arising under federal statutes, the Constitution, or treaties.
• Decisions made in district courts can be appealed to the circuit courts.

Circuit Court:

• Circuit courts are appellate courts that do not hold trials but only hear appeals on federal cases.
• They review cases decided in U.S. District Courts within their circuit.
• Circuit courts do not retry cases or hear new evidence; they review the procedures and decisions in the trial court to ensure that the law was applied correctly.
• Circuit courts are influential as they set legal precedents.

In summary, district courts handle trials and deal with a variety of cases, while circuit courts are appellate courts that review decisions made in district courts to ensure the correct application of the law.

Comparative Table: Circuit Court vs District Court

Here is a table summarizing the differences between Circuit Court and District Court:

In summary, the Circuit Court is an appellate court that reviews decisions made by District Courts, while the District Court is a trial court that resolves disputes through trials. They differ in their functions, jurisdiction, trial structure, and cases they handle.