Johnson v. Zerbst

The U.S. court of appeals is the second level of the federal court system where parties dissatisfied with the U.S. district court's decisions can have them reviewed. The U.S. Supreme Court is the third level of the federal judicial system where parties can have the decisions by the courts of appeals reviewed. The federal courts of appeals also hear and review decisions by the U.S. Tax Court and some federal administrative agencies. Judges for the courts of appeals receive life appointments by the president with help and approval of the Senate and each court has at least six judges.

This branch of the federal court system includes 12 regional courts of appeals as well as the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. These regional courts are divided into circuits and the First through Eleventh Circuits consist of three or more states each. In addition, there is the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia, which handles appeals in the District of Columbia and has jurisdiction over many departments of the federal government.