Journalist's Guide

District
Appellate
Bankruptcy
Glossary

uscourts.gov

The best journalists who cover the federal courts distinguish themselves by their knowledge of the intricacies of the system. They find documents other reporters overlook, they understand documents that other reporters misinterpret, and they anticipate what's coming next.

This section will walk through each stage of both a criminal and a civil case. But first, it describes the key players in the federal trial courts. It also identifies the types of court information you'll need and the possible sources for that information.

Key Players   

• Judges
• Clerks
• Court Officers
• Attorneys
• Counsel

Types and Sources of Court Information

A Criminal Case

The Trial

A Civil Case

This page is maintained by the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts on behalf of the U.S. Courts. The purpose of this site is to function as a clearinghouse for information from and about the Judicial Branch of the U.S. Government.

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