The Ultimate AAERT CDR Exam Prep
Guide Practice Questions, Answers,
and Detailed Rationales for the
Certified Digital Reporter Exam (2026
Edition)
1. The 94 Federal District Courts are organized into how many regional
circuits?
A: 11
B: 25
C: 50
D: 12
Correct Answer: D: 12
Rationale: The 94 federal judicial districts are organized into 12 regional
circuits for the U.S. Courts of Appeals. The 13th circuit is the Federal Circuit,
which has nationwide jurisdiction over certain types of cases. This is a
fundamental organizational structure tested on the CDR exam.
,2. 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."
A: Jurisdiction - subject matter
B: Jurisdiction - geographic
C: Jurisdiction - limited
D: Jurisdiction - general
Correct Answer: A: Jurisdiction - subject matter
Rationale: Subject matter jurisdiction refers to a court's authority to hear
cases of a particular type or cases relating to specific subject matter.
Geographic jurisdiction (or territorial jurisdiction) refers to the physical area
where a court has authority. Limited jurisdiction courts can only hear specific
types of cases.
3. Constitutionality is decided by which court?
A: Appeals
B: Supreme
C: District
D: State
Correct Answer: B: Supreme
Rationale: The U.S. Supreme Court is the final arbiter of constitutional
questions. When the Supreme Court rules on a matter, all other courts are
bound to follow that ruling. This is a key concept in understanding the federal
court hierarchy and judicial review.
,4. True or False? State courts are independent of federal courts.
Correct Answer: True
Rationale: State courts operate independently from federal courts. Each state
has its own court system, and federal courts do not have supervisory
authority over state courts. However, the U.S. Supreme Court can review state
court decisions that involve federal law or constitutional issues.
5. Fill in the blank: The venue of a case is _________ the case is ________.
Correct Answer: [WHERE] the case is [FILED]
Rationale: Venue refers to the geographic location where a case is filed and
heard. It is distinct from jurisdiction, which is the authority of the court to
hear the case. Venue determines which court in a particular geographic area
will hear the case.
6. What does the venue (jurisdiction) of the case tell the reporter?
A: What legal procedures to abide by
B: Whether the judge is assigned to a case from start to finish
C: Where the proceeding is taking place
D: Whether there will be a jury during trial or not
Correct Answer: C: Where the proceeding is taking place
, Rationale: Venue tells the reporter the geographic location where the case is
being heard. For example, "United States District Court of Massachusetts"
indicates the case is filed and heard in Massachusetts. Venue does not
determine legal procedures, judge assignment, or jury presence.
7. Put the following court systems in order from highest tier to lowest
(if the top tier is number one):
State Supreme Court
Municipal Courts
Circuit or District Courts
Court of Appeals
Correct Answer:
1. State Supreme Court
2. Court of Appeals
3. Circuit or District Courts
4. Municipal Courts
Rationale: This represents the typical state court hierarchy. State Supreme
Court is the highest (court of last resort), followed by intermediate appellate
courts (Court of Appeals), then trial courts of general jurisdiction (Circuit or
District Courts), and finally courts of limited jurisdiction (Municipal Courts).
8. The three types of courts are ________ courts, which have been
around the longest; ________ courts, which includes the United States
Guide Practice Questions, Answers,
and Detailed Rationales for the
Certified Digital Reporter Exam (2026
Edition)
1. The 94 Federal District Courts are organized into how many regional
circuits?
A: 11
B: 25
C: 50
D: 12
Correct Answer: D: 12
Rationale: The 94 federal judicial districts are organized into 12 regional
circuits for the U.S. Courts of Appeals. The 13th circuit is the Federal Circuit,
which has nationwide jurisdiction over certain types of cases. This is a
fundamental organizational structure tested on the CDR exam.
,2. 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."
A: Jurisdiction - subject matter
B: Jurisdiction - geographic
C: Jurisdiction - limited
D: Jurisdiction - general
Correct Answer: A: Jurisdiction - subject matter
Rationale: Subject matter jurisdiction refers to a court's authority to hear
cases of a particular type or cases relating to specific subject matter.
Geographic jurisdiction (or territorial jurisdiction) refers to the physical area
where a court has authority. Limited jurisdiction courts can only hear specific
types of cases.
3. Constitutionality is decided by which court?
A: Appeals
B: Supreme
C: District
D: State
Correct Answer: B: Supreme
Rationale: The U.S. Supreme Court is the final arbiter of constitutional
questions. When the Supreme Court rules on a matter, all other courts are
bound to follow that ruling. This is a key concept in understanding the federal
court hierarchy and judicial review.
,4. True or False? State courts are independent of federal courts.
Correct Answer: True
Rationale: State courts operate independently from federal courts. Each state
has its own court system, and federal courts do not have supervisory
authority over state courts. However, the U.S. Supreme Court can review state
court decisions that involve federal law or constitutional issues.
5. Fill in the blank: The venue of a case is _________ the case is ________.
Correct Answer: [WHERE] the case is [FILED]
Rationale: Venue refers to the geographic location where a case is filed and
heard. It is distinct from jurisdiction, which is the authority of the court to
hear the case. Venue determines which court in a particular geographic area
will hear the case.
6. What does the venue (jurisdiction) of the case tell the reporter?
A: What legal procedures to abide by
B: Whether the judge is assigned to a case from start to finish
C: Where the proceeding is taking place
D: Whether there will be a jury during trial or not
Correct Answer: C: Where the proceeding is taking place
, Rationale: Venue tells the reporter the geographic location where the case is
being heard. For example, "United States District Court of Massachusetts"
indicates the case is filed and heard in Massachusetts. Venue does not
determine legal procedures, judge assignment, or jury presence.
7. Put the following court systems in order from highest tier to lowest
(if the top tier is number one):
State Supreme Court
Municipal Courts
Circuit or District Courts
Court of Appeals
Correct Answer:
1. State Supreme Court
2. Court of Appeals
3. Circuit or District Courts
4. Municipal Courts
Rationale: This represents the typical state court hierarchy. State Supreme
Court is the highest (court of last resort), followed by intermediate appellate
courts (Court of Appeals), then trial courts of general jurisdiction (Circuit or
District Courts), and finally courts of limited jurisdiction (Municipal Courts).
8. The three types of courts are ________ courts, which have been
around the longest; ________ courts, which includes the United States
