Which of the following is not a tier of the American dual court system?

• A. Marriage courts
• B. Federal courts
• C. State courts
• D. Local trial courts

Answer: (A)

The system is built from two separate sets of courts: federal and state, each organized into levels or tiers. In general, cases flow from trial courts at the bottom, to intermediate or appellate courts, and up to a highest court (the U.S. Supreme Court at the federal level, and the state supreme or high court at the state level). Local trial courts are part of the state court structure and serve as the first stop for many civil and criminal cases within a state.

There isn’t a formal tier called “marriage courts.” While family or matrimonial matters may be heard in the appropriate trial or family court within the state system, those topics do not constitute a separate tier of the dual court system. That’s why marriage courts is the correct choice for the option that isn’t a tier.