Appeals from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office are also heard by the Federal Circuit. Otherwise, appeals are taken by the U.S. Circuit Court which presides over the geographic region covering the District Court where the case originated. For example, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit presides over Illinois, Indiana, and Wisconsin. The Supreme Court of the United States is located in Washington, D.C. and consists of nine justices appointed by the President and approved by the Senate. This highest court will hear a limited number of appeals from the Circuit Courts of Appeals, and has original jurisdiction in certain cases.
Most states have a three-tiered court system.
The Circuit Courts are courts of general jurisdiction and have original jurisdiction in all but a limited number of state matters. An appeal from a Circuit Court is heard by the Appellate Court presiding over the Judicial District where the case originated. Appeals are heard by panels of three justices. The first Judicial District consists exclusively of Cook County. The Illinois Supreme Court is located in Springfield, Illinois, and is composed of seven justices.