What is the highest court in the United States?

The Supreme Court is the highest court in the United States, holding the ultimate judicial authority over federal and state court cases concerning the Constitution, federal laws, and treaties. It has the power to interpret laws and its decisions are binding across the country, which establishes legal precedents that lower courts must follow.

In the structure of the U.S. judicial system, the Supreme Court sits at the top, below it are the Courts of Appeals, which handle appeals from the District Courts. The District Courts serve as trial courts for federal cases, while the Magistrate Courts are lower courts that assist in preliminary hearings and minor cases. Their roles are important but do not carry the authority or jurisdiction of the Supreme Court, which is tasked with resolving the most critical legal questions in the nation and ensuring the consistent application of the law.