They handle the bulk of all litigation in the federal system.Each year almost 250,000 civil cases and over 45,000 criminal cases are filed in federal district courts. The cases generally involve federal law.In most cases a district court is the court of first and last resort in the federal judicial system.A small number of cases are appealed to the Federal Court of Appeal. c.federal circuit appellate court:12 federal courts of appeal with various number of judges(from 4 and 26 in each court).Federal court of appeal offers the only real hope of reversal for many appellants,since the Supreme Court hears so few cases.Fewer than 1%of the cases heard by the federal appeals courts are later reviewed by the Supreme Court.Federal Appellate court justices are also nominated by the president and confirmed by the Senate.They handle the bulk of all litigation in the federal system. Each year almost 250,000 civil cases and over 45,000 criminal cases are filed in federal district courts. The cases generally involve federal law. In most cases a district court is the court of first and last resort in the federal judicial system. A small number of cases are appealed to the Federal Court of Appeal. c. federal circuit appellate court: 12 federal courts of appeal with various number of judges (from 4 and 26 in each court). Federal court of appeal offers the only real hope of reversal for many appellants, since the Supreme Court hears so few cases. Fewer than 1% of the cases heard by the federal appeals courts are later reviewed by the Supreme Court. Federal Appellate court justices are also nominated by the president and confirmed by the Senate