>>The Internet contains many sites that claim that the fringe indicates martial law or that the Constitution does not apply in that area.<<
I, myself, heard a Reno, Nevada Federal judge say to a defendant,"The Constitution does not apply in this courtroom. Do not mention it again or I will hold you in contempt of court."
So, all of you who think the fringe is just decoration better do some research because evidently it does have a meaning in Federal courtrooms.
The United States district courts are the trial courts of the federal court system. Within limits set by Congress and the Constitution, the district courts have jurisdiction to hear nearly all categories of federal cases, including both civil and criminal matters. There are 94 federal judicial districts, including at least one district in each state, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. Three territories of the United States -- the Virgin Islands, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands -- have district courts that hear federal cases, including bankruptcy cases.
There are two special trial courts that have nationwide jurisdiction over certain types of cases. The Court of International Trade addresses cases involving international trade and customs issues. The United States Court of Federal Claims has jurisdiction over most claims for money damages against the United States, disputes over federal contracts, unlawful "takings" of private property by the federal government, and a variety of other claims against the United States.
The court case I am thinking about either was the Wayne Hage case or another one that had to do with BLM land taking.
(Y'all remember jury nullification, don't you? If you don't, just recall about the "Fugitive Slave Act" in the North in the years before the Civil War... don we now our asbestos underwear... ;-)