U.S. Federal Courts of Appeals Case Law

The United States Courts of Appeal, sometimes referred to as the Federal Circuit Courts, are intermediate appellate federal courts. They are comprised of thirteen circuits; the 1st - 11th Circuits, the District of Columbia Circuit Court and the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. These courts hear appeals from decisions rendered by the U.S. District Courts, as well as from other federal courts and agencies. Click here to see a map of the Federal Circuits.

The U.S. Circuit Courts of Appeals are the main intermediate appellate courts in the federal judicial system. Most Circuit Courts have jurisdiction over a designated geographical region. The Federal Circuit has nationwide jurisdiction over specific types of appeals, such as certain matters involving patents, trademarks, international trade, and government contracts.

You can also explore decisions by the Circuit Courts in the following official reporters:

Decisions by a Circuit Court other than the Federal Circuit are binding only in its region. A party who disagrees with a decision by a Circuit Court may appeal to the Supreme Court, but it selects only a small percentage of these appeals for review.

Browse Opinions From the U.S. Federal Courts of Appeals