The Difference between Federal Courts and State/Local Courts
In addition to the federal court system, each state has its own court system. Some localities such as cities and counties have their own court systems as well. LCCR/EF focuses on federal courts because federal civil rights laws are mostly enforced in these courts.
| Federal Courts | State/Local Courts |
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Some Types of Cases Heard:
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Some Types of Cases Heard:
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Affect on federal civil rights law: Rulings issued by federal courts are more authoritative interpretations of federal laws than state courts, and the Supreme Court has the final definitive say on issues regarding federal civil rights law. |
Affect on federal civil rights law: While state courts sometimes address federal laws, the federal courts' interpretations of federal law generally carries more persuasive weight. |
