United States courts of appeals

US Court of Appeals and District Court map

US Court of Appeals and District Court map

== United States Courts of Appeals ==

The United States Courts of Appeals are the intermediate appellate courts of the United States federal judiciary. They are also known as the federal circuit courts. The courts of appeals are divided into thirteen circuits, each covering a specific geographical region or subject matter jurisdiction.

History

The United States Courts of Appeals were established by the Judiciary Act of 1891, also known as the Evarts Act. This act was a response to the increasing caseload of the Supreme Court of the United States, which was unable to handle all appeals from the lower courts. The creation of the courts of appeals helped to alleviate this burden by providing an intermediate level of appellate review.

Structure

The United States Courts of Appeals are organized into thirteen circuits:

• First Circuit
• Second Circuit
• Third Circuit
• Fourth Circuit
• Fifth Circuit
• Sixth Circuit
• Seventh Circuit
• Eighth Circuit
• Ninth Circuit
• Tenth Circuit
• Eleventh Circuit
• District of Columbia Circuit
• Federal Circuit

Each circuit has a varying number of judges, with the total number of judgeships determined by Congress. The judges are appointed by the President of the United States and confirmed by the United States Senate. They serve lifetime appointments under Article III of the United States Constitution.

Jurisdiction

The United States Courts of Appeals have appellate jurisdiction over cases from the United States District Courts within their respective circuits. They also have jurisdiction over certain administrative agency decisions and other specialized matters. The Federal Circuit has nationwide jurisdiction over specific types of cases, such as those involving patent law and international trade.

Procedure

Cases in the United States Courts of Appeals are typically heard by panels of three judges. However, in some instances, cases may be heard en banc, meaning by all the judges of the circuit. The courts of appeals review the decisions of the lower courts for errors of law and ensure that the proper legal standards were applied.

Impact

The decisions of the United States Courts of Appeals are binding on the lower courts within their respective circuits. These decisions can only be overturned by the Supreme Court of the United States. As such, the courts of appeals play a crucial role in shaping federal law and ensuring uniformity in its application across the country.

Related Pages

• United States federal judiciary
• Supreme Court of the United States
• United States District Court
• Judiciary Act of 1891
• Article III of the United States Constitution
• President of the United States
• United States Senate
• Patent law
• International trade