Of the three branches of government, the federal judiciary is the least well known and understood. For one thing, its proceedings aren't covered by the press with the same regularity or intensity afforded the executive and legislative branches. Also, few Americans have reason to participate in the federal court system, because most disputes are handled at the state court level. And finally, its role and procedures can seem complex and confusing. We'll try to simplify and demystify the federal courts in this chapter.