The Judiciary Act of 1789 limited the criminal jurisdiction of the U.S. district courts to cases in which the penalty could not exceed a whipping of 30 lashes, a fine of $100, or a prison term of six months. All other federal crimes were the exclusive province of the U.S. circuit courts. In 1842, however, Congress gave the district courts concurrent jurisdiction with the circuit courts over all noncapital federal crimes.

See also:

Criminal Jurisdiction