While the Michigan judiciary hears cases involving state law, federal judges located in Michigan decide matters that involve federal law, very large sums of money or a party from another state.[82] Michigan’s use of district, circuit and appellate courts mirrors the division of authority at the federal level. There are two federal district courts, the Eastern District of Michigan and Western District of Michigan.[83] District courts are the lowest courts in the federal system, and they hear trials similar to those in state-level circuit courts. Appeals from federal district courts are heard in the United States Court of Appeals, which is divided into 13 circuits. Michigan is under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, along with Kentucky, Ohio and Tennessee.[84] People who want to appeal the federal appellate court decision in their case must request a “writ of certiorari” from the Supreme Court of the United States. Like the Michigan Supreme Court, the U.S. Supreme Court has discretion to decide which cases it will hear and only grants “writs” to a small fraction of applicants each term.[85]