DISTRICT COURTS

the primary tribunals of the federal judicial system of the United States. Each has a judge, clerk, marshal and district attorney. The courts represent'a judicial district, which may embrace the whole of a state or territory, or only a portion of a state. The largest states have several districts. The courts exercise jurisdiction over litigation and offenses arising under the federal constitution and statutes and under treaties, inclusive of suits brought by the United States. They pa on I natters of i ue between citizens of different states, or between citizens of foreign states. Their jurisdiction embraces maritime, inland revenue, and customs cases; question of patents, copyrights and trades marks, prosecutions of trusts and monopolies; and cases relating to interstate commerce, immigration and bankruptcy. The rulings of the District Courts are subject to appeal before the Circuit Courts of Appeal and the Supreme Court. As now constituted, the District Courts date from 1911, when they were empowered to exercise the original jurisdiction formerly po e ed by the Circuit Courts. A District Judge receives $6,000 a year.