Which court typically has original jurisdiction?

• A. Courts of appeals
• B. District courts
• C. Supreme Court
• D. Courts of federal claims

Answer: (B)

Original jurisdiction means the court where a case is heard for the first time, with evidence presented and a verdict issued. In the federal system, that role is filled by the district courts, which are the trial courts for federal matters and handle most cases from start to finish. Courts of appeals review the decisions of district courts and don’t conduct new trials, so they don’t have original jurisdiction. The Supreme Court has original jurisdiction only in a few narrow situations (like disputes between states or cases involving ambassadors), but most of its work is appellate. The Court of Federal Claims handles certain monetary claims against the U.S. government, but that’s a specialized track, not the typical starting point. So the district courts are the usual place with original jurisdiction.