What type of jurisdiction do district courts primarily have?

District courts primarily have original jurisdiction, which means they are the first level of courts where cases are initiated and tried. In the federal court system, district courts handle a variety of cases, including civil and criminal matters, allowing them to hear and make determinations on the facts and legal issues presented. This initial authority to hear cases distinguishes them from appellate courts, which typically review decisions made by lower courts, and thus do not have original jurisdiction.

Original jurisdiction enables district courts to evaluate evidence, hear witnesses, and apply the law to reach verdicts. This foundational role is essential in the judicial system, as it provides a venue for individuals and entities to resolve disputes and seek justice in a diversified array of cases. The concept of exclusive jurisdiction would imply that only one court has the authority to hear a certain type of case, but this is not the defining feature of district courts. Concurrent jurisdiction refers to cases that can be heard in more than one court system, again not specific to district courts alone. Appellate jurisdiction, on the other hand, is limited to reviewing and deciding upon the rulings of lower courts. Thus, the accurate characterization of district courts is their possession of original jurisdiction.