Legal Definitions - Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals

The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals is one of the thirteen federal appellate courts in the United States judicial system. These courts are responsible for reviewing decisions made by federal trial courts (known as district courts) and certain federal administrative agencies within their specific geographic regions.

The Ninth Circuit has the largest geographical jurisdiction of all federal circuits. It covers the states of Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington, as well as the U.S. territories of Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands. When a party involved in a federal lawsuit in one of these areas is dissatisfied with the outcome at the district court level, they can appeal their case to the Ninth Circuit. The decisions made by the Ninth Circuit are binding on all federal courts within its circuit, and its rulings can only be overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court.

Here are a few examples of situations where the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals would be involved:

• Example 1: Federal Environmental Regulations

  Imagine a large agricultural company in Idaho is accused by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) of violating federal clean water standards. The company disputes the allegations and is ultimately found liable by a federal district court in Idaho. If the company believes the district court made an error in interpreting federal environmental law or applying the facts, they would appeal their case to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. This is because Idaho falls within the Ninth Circuit's jurisdiction, and the case involves a dispute over federal regulations.

• Example 2: Constitutional Rights Challenge

  Consider a group of citizens in Seattle, Washington, who challenge a new state law, arguing it infringes upon their Fourth Amendment rights against unreasonable searches and seizures. They file a lawsuit in a federal district court in Washington, but the court rules that the state law is constitutional. If the citizens wish to continue their legal challenge, they would appeal the district court's decision to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. The Ninth Circuit would then review whether the lower court correctly interpreted and applied the U.S. Constitution, as Washington is part of its circuit.

• Example 3: Federal Intellectual Property Dispute

  Suppose a software developer in San Francisco, California, sues a larger technology corporation for copyright infringement, claiming the corporation illegally used their patented code. The case is heard in a federal district court in California, which ultimately rules in favor of the larger corporation. If the software developer believes the district court made a mistake in its interpretation of federal copyright law or its application to the facts, they would appeal the judgment to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. California is within the Ninth Circuit's jurisdiction, and federal courts handle intellectual property disputes.