Page 1 of 214
AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF ELECTRONIC
REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS (AAERT)
CERTIFIED ELECTRONIC REPORTER (CER)
REAL EXAM — 188 QUESTIONS WITH
ANSWERS AND EXPLANATIONS | pdf
1. The 94 Federal District Courts are organized into how many
regional circuits?
A) 11
B) 25
C) 50
D) 12
Answer: D) 12
Rationale: The 94 federal judicial districts are organized into 12
regional circuits: 11 numbered circuits plus the District of
,Page 2 of 214
Columbia Circuit. Each circuit has a Court of Appeals that reviews
decisions from the district courts within its geographic area .
2. Place the following court systems in order from highest to
lowest authority:
State Supreme Court
Municipal Courts
Circuit or District Courts
Court of Appeals
Answer: 1. State Supreme Court, 2. Court of Appeals, 3. Circuit
or District Courts, 4. Municipal Courts
Rationale: This hierarchy reflects the standard appellate structure
of state court systems. The State Supreme Court is the highest
authority, followed by intermediate appellate courts, then trial-
level courts, and finally limited-jurisdiction municipal courts at the
lowest level .
,Page 3 of 214
3. Fill in the blank: The venue of a case is _________ the case
is ________.
Answer: WHERE; FILED
Rationale: Venue refers to the geographic location (specific court
or jurisdiction) where a case is filed and will be heard. It
determines which court within a judicial system has authority to
hear the case based on location of parties, events, or property
involved .
4. The three types of courts in the U.S. federated system are:
A) Criminal, Civil, Family
B) State, Federal, U.S. Supreme Court
C) Trial, Appellate, Administrative
D) Local, County, Federal
.S. Supreme Court
Rationale: The American judicial system comprises three levels:
, Page 4 of 214
state courts (the oldest, handling most day-to-day legal matters),
federal courts (including specialized courts like Tax Court and
Bankruptcy Court), and the U. Answer: B) State, Federal, U S.
Supreme Court (the highest tribunal and third branch of
government) .
5. True or False: State courts are independent of federal courts.
Answer: True
Rationale: State and federal courts operate as separate, parallel
judicial systems under the principle of federalism. Each has its
own jurisdiction, procedures, and authority. However, federal
courts can hear cases involving federal questions or diversity of
citizenship, and the U.S. Supreme Court has ultimate appellate
authority over constitutional matters .
6. Which term applies to the following definition: "Types of
cases or issues a court is authorized to hear. For example,
bankruptcy court can only hear bankruptcy cases."
AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF ELECTRONIC
REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS (AAERT)
CERTIFIED ELECTRONIC REPORTER (CER)
REAL EXAM — 188 QUESTIONS WITH
ANSWERS AND EXPLANATIONS | pdf
1. The 94 Federal District Courts are organized into how many
regional circuits?
A) 11
B) 25
C) 50
D) 12
Answer: D) 12
Rationale: The 94 federal judicial districts are organized into 12
regional circuits: 11 numbered circuits plus the District of
,Page 2 of 214
Columbia Circuit. Each circuit has a Court of Appeals that reviews
decisions from the district courts within its geographic area .
2. Place the following court systems in order from highest to
lowest authority:
State Supreme Court
Municipal Courts
Circuit or District Courts
Court of Appeals
Answer: 1. State Supreme Court, 2. Court of Appeals, 3. Circuit
or District Courts, 4. Municipal Courts
Rationale: This hierarchy reflects the standard appellate structure
of state court systems. The State Supreme Court is the highest
authority, followed by intermediate appellate courts, then trial-
level courts, and finally limited-jurisdiction municipal courts at the
lowest level .
,Page 3 of 214
3. Fill in the blank: The venue of a case is _________ the case
is ________.
Answer: WHERE; FILED
Rationale: Venue refers to the geographic location (specific court
or jurisdiction) where a case is filed and will be heard. It
determines which court within a judicial system has authority to
hear the case based on location of parties, events, or property
involved .
4. The three types of courts in the U.S. federated system are:
A) Criminal, Civil, Family
B) State, Federal, U.S. Supreme Court
C) Trial, Appellate, Administrative
D) Local, County, Federal
.S. Supreme Court
Rationale: The American judicial system comprises three levels:
, Page 4 of 214
state courts (the oldest, handling most day-to-day legal matters),
federal courts (including specialized courts like Tax Court and
Bankruptcy Court), and the U. Answer: B) State, Federal, U S.
Supreme Court (the highest tribunal and third branch of
government) .
5. True or False: State courts are independent of federal courts.
Answer: True
Rationale: State and federal courts operate as separate, parallel
judicial systems under the principle of federalism. Each has its
own jurisdiction, procedures, and authority. However, federal
courts can hear cases involving federal questions or diversity of
citizenship, and the U.S. Supreme Court has ultimate appellate
authority over constitutional matters .
6. Which term applies to the following definition: "Types of
cases or issues a court is authorized to hear. For example,
bankruptcy court can only hear bankruptcy cases."
