Please see the Translated Materials section to access these documents in other languages.

The U.S. Legal System: A Short Description (PDF)
An overview of the U.S. Legal System including: (1) structure of the federal court system; (2) structure of the state court systems; (3) court administration; (4) the role of judges, prosecutors, and lawyers. For translated versions of this document, see Translated Briefing Materials under the Resources menu.

Federal Courts & What They Do  (PDF)
Introduction to the U.S. court system, its organization and administration, and its relationship to the legislative and executive branches of the government.

Federal Judicial Administration (PDF)
Outline of the administrative and governance structure of the U.S. courts.

The Federal Court System in the United States: An Introduction for Judges and Judicial Administrators in Other Countries (PDF)
This booklet is designed to introduce judges and judicial administrators in other countries to the United States federal judicial system, its organization and administration, and its relationship to the legislative and executive branches of the federal government.

Geographical Boundaries of U.S. Courts of Appeals and U.S. District Courts (PDF)
Map of the geographical boundaries of the U.S. Courts of Appeals and the U.S. District Courts.

Federal Judicial Center—Education and Research for the U.S. Federal Courts (PDF)
An overview of the Federal Judicial Center, including its organization, history, and mission. For translated versions of this document, see Translated Briefing Materials under the Resources menu.  

Judicial Conduct and Discipline (PDF)
Description of the rules and procedures governing judicial conduct and discipline in the U.S. Courts. For translated versions of this document, see Translated Briefing Materials under the Resources menu.

Alternative Dispute Resolution (PDF)
Description of ADR programs and procedures in the U.S. Courts. For translated versions of this document, see Translated Briefing Materials under the Resources menu.

Judicial Conference of the United States (PDF)
Short overview of the Judicial Conference of the United States.

Judicial Performance Evaluation (PDF)
A well-designed and carefully administered judicial performance evaluation (JPE) program can serve to improve the administration of justice and enhance public confidence in the judiciary. This document describes different features of a judicial performance evaluation process and describes programs used by the federal and state courts in the United States.