Which court is directly below the Supreme Court in the federal court hierarchy?

The Federal Appeals Court, often referred to as the Court of Appeals, is positioned directly below the Supreme Court in the federal court hierarchy. This court serves a critical role in the judicial system by reviewing decisions made by lower courts, including the District Courts, which are the trial courts of the federal system. When a case is appealed, it is brought to the Federal Appeals Court, where panels of judges examine the case's merits, assess whether legal principles were correctly applied, and determine if any errors warrant reversing or modifying the lower court’s decision. If further appeal is necessary, the last resort is the Supreme Court, which has the discretion to hear the cases reviewed by the Appeals Court.

The other options do not occupy the correct position in the hierarchy. District Courts are the trial courts where cases are initially heard, state courts operate within their own system and manage state law issues, and Circuit Courts could refer to regional courts or specifically state-level courts, which do not fit the context of federal court hierarchy.