7.6.1 Jurisdiction and case assignment As noted in Section 7.3, the Tokyo District Court or the Osaka District Court handles first instances of civil lawsuits for an alleged infringement of a patent.233 Patent infringement cases are assigned to panels of the IP divisions of the district courts according to the order in which they are filed. Civil Divisions 29, 40, 46 and 47 of the Tokyo District Court and Civil Divisions 21 and 26 of the Osaka District Court specialize in IP infringement proceedings. A panel of three judges will usually hear patent infringement cases. Fact-finding does not involve jurors and is conducted by judges. However, judicial research officials – examiners seconded from the JPO, or patent attorneys – are assigned to assist district court judges with technical matters. Any appeal against a district court decision in a patent infringement lawsuit is under the exclusive jurisdiction of the IP High Court.234 A party that is dissatisfied with a decision of the IP High Court may file a final appeal or a petition for the acceptance of a final appeal to the Supreme Court.235 Code of Civil Procedure, art. 6(1).Code of Civil Procedure, art. 6(3); Act for Establishment of the IP High Court, art. 2(1). See Section 7.3 of this chapter for further information on the IP High Court.Code of Civil Procedure, arts 285, 313. The appeal of district court patent infringement decisions to the IP High Court and the Supreme Court is discussed below. See Section 7.3 for further information on the Supreme Court.