Which term refers to the intermediate appellate court in the federal system?

• A. Subpoena
• B. Writ of certiorari
• C. En banc
• D. U.S. Court of Appeals

Answer: (D)

In the federal system, cases are heard first in district courts and then appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals, which serves as the intermediate appellate level between trial courts and the Supreme Court. The U.S. Court of Appeals, also known as the circuit courts, review decisions for errors and apply circuit-specific rules. The other terms refer to different things: a subpoena is an order to compel testimony or production of evidence; a writ of certiorari is a request for the Supreme Court to review a case; and en banc is a procedure where the full slate of judges in a circuit hears a case, not a designation of the court itself. Therefore, the term for the intermediate appellate court is the U.S. Court of Appeals.