Which statement about the federal court system's highest court is correct?

• A. The highest court in the federal system is US Supreme Court
• B. The highest court in the federal system is the Texas Supreme Court
• C. There is no highest court
• D. The highest court is the Court of Appeals

Answer: (A)

In the federal court system, the highest authority is the United States Supreme Court. It’s established by the Constitution and sits atop the federal judiciary, serving as the final arbiter on federal constitutional questions and federal law. Lower federal courts, like the Courts of Appeals and District Courts, may have their decisions reviewed by the Supreme Court, but the Supreme Court’s rulings are the ultimate guide for the entire country.

The Texas Supreme Court, by contrast, is a state-level court that handles Texas matters within its own state court system, not federal cases. The Court of Appeals in the federal system is an intermediate appellate court, not the top one. There is indeed a highest court in the federal system, so saying there isn’t one isn’t accurate.