A dual court system is a judicial structure that employs two independent court systems, one operating at the local level and the other at the national level. The United States has a dual court system where state and federal matters are handled separately. There are two types of courts in the United States: state and federal. Within each track, there are three main levels: trial courts, appellate courts, and the highest court for that respective track.

The federal court system has three main levels: district courts, circuit courts, and the U.S. Supreme Court. District courts are the starting points for federal cases and where a trial takes place. Federal judges and Supreme Court justices are appointed by the president and confirmed by the U.S. Senate for a lifetime term.

The state court system largely mirrors the structure of the federal court system in that it is generally composed of three main levels: trial courts, state appellate courts, and a state Supreme Court. On rare occasions, a decision on federal matters made in a state Supreme Court will be petitioned to the U.S. Supreme Court.

The dual court system has both benefits and drawbacks. On the plus side, each person has more than just one court system ready to protect their rights. The dual court system provides alternate venues in which to appeal for assistance. On the other hand, having overlapping court systems opens the door to the possibility of unequal or inconsistent application of the law.

In summary, a dual court system is a judicial structure that employs two independent court systems, one operating at the local level and the other at the national level. The United States has a dual court system where state and federal matters are handled separately. Each system has three main levels: trial courts, appellate courts, and the highest court for that respective track. The dual court system has both benefits and drawbacks.