[header] How to find court cases [title] Identify if it is a state or federal case. [step] There are two separate court systems in the united states. Each state has its own independent legal system. 
There is a separate court structure for each of the 3 , 000 + counties, as well as an over-arching appellate and supreme court system in each state. Operating parallel to the state courts is a federal system of 94 district courts , 94 bankruptcy courts , 13 circuit courts of appeal, and the supreme court of the united states (scotus).