federal court

A federal court is, in US law, a court established under the authority of the United States Constitution or by federal legislation — as opposed to a state court. The federal court system consists of three main levels: the U.S. District Courts, which are courts of first instance; the U.S. Courts of Appeals, which hear appeals; and, at the top, the U.S. Supreme Court. In addition there are specialised courts such as the U.S. Court of Federal Claims and the Court of International Trade, all defined under 28 U.S.C. § 610.

When an article states that someone "lied to a federal court", it means that the person gave false information in a case before one of these federal courts. It matters that the case is heard before a federal — and not a state — court, because this has direct consequences for which laws apply and which authority investigates and prosecutes. Giving false testimony or otherwise misleading a federal court may constitute the offence of perjury or contempt of court under federal law.

In the case concerning Tonia Haddix and the chimpanzee Tonka, this meant that she was answerable to the federal justice system — with the harsher consequences that entails — rather than to a state justice system. Federal cases are typically brought where there is a violation of federal legislation, where the United States is a party, or where a matter crosses state lines. It is this particular jurisdiction that makes the term "federal court" legally precise and significant in true crime contexts.