Which description best fits the circuit court of appeals?

The circuit court of appeals serves as the federal appellate level immediately below the Supreme Court. This means that it is the next tier in the judicial hierarchy where cases can be appealed after being decided in lower courts. The primary function of the circuit courts of appeals is to review decisions made by district courts and ensure that federal laws and constitutional principles have been correctly interpreted and applied.

This structure allows for cases to undergo judicial scrutiny before potentially reaching the Supreme Court, which has the discretion to choose which cases it will hear. Thus, the circuit court of appeals plays a crucial role in the federal judicial system, acting as a filter and providing a uniform interpretation of federal laws across different jurisdictions.

In contrast, the description of the final level of the court system pertains to the Supreme Court, not the circuit court of appeals. Local trial courts are typically where cases begin and differ significantly from appellate courts, which focus on reviewing prior court decisions. State-level appellate courts are their distinct entities, generally responsible for reviewing decisions made in the state court system.