Introduction to the US Federal Court System

For public librarians and anyone else who has to start answering a legal reference question by explaining the US Federal Court system, the Administrative Office of the US Courts has published on the web, A Journalist's Guide to the Federal Courts. Yes, the guide is intended to assist reporters assigned to court coverage but it also can be used as a primer to the US federal court system by anyone, including those patrons with deer-in-the-headlight stares.

The Guide explains the Federal District Courts, Bankruptcy Courts, and the Federal Appellate Courts. The Guide provides links to sources of court information and including a guide to bankruptcy law that quite good.