The judicial branch of the United States government is made up primarily of the Supreme Court, the Courts of Appeals, and the District Courts.
- The Supreme Court is the highest court in the land and consists of nine justices: one Chief Justice and eight Associate Justices. These justices are nominated by the President and confirmed by the Senate, serving lifetime appointments unless they resign, pass away, or are impeached and convicted by Congress
- Below the Supreme Court are the 13 United States Courts of Appeals, which review cases appealed from the district courts
- The United States District Courts are the trial courts that handle most federal cases initially
Together, these courts and their judges make up the federal judiciary, which interprets laws, applies them to cases, and determines the constitutionality of laws. The judicial branch operates independently from the executive and legislative branches to ensure impartial justice
