Legal Definitions - United States Court of Appeals

The United States Court of Appeals, often referred to as a circuit court, is a federal court that reviews decisions made by lower federal courts and certain federal administrative agencies. It stands as the intermediate level of the federal judiciary, positioned above the U.S. District Courts (where trials are held) and below the U.S. Supreme Court.

These courts do not conduct trials or hear new evidence. Instead, they examine the record of a case from the trial court to determine if any legal errors were made or if proper procedures were followed. The United States is divided into 13 judicial circuits, and each Court of Appeals has jurisdiction over a specific circuit, meaning it hears appeals from federal district courts within that geographic area, as well as from certain federal administrative agencies.

• Example 1: Criminal Conviction Appeal

  Imagine a person is convicted of federal tax evasion in a U.S. District Court in Florida. The defendant believes that the trial judge made a significant error by allowing certain evidence to be presented to the jury, which they argue violated their constitutional rights. Instead of accepting the conviction, the defendant decides to appeal.

  How it illustrates the term: The defendant would appeal their case to the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit, which covers Florida and other southeastern states. This appellate court would review the trial record, including the judge's decision on evidence, to determine if a legal error occurred that warrants overturning the conviction or ordering a new trial. They would not hear new testimony or re-evaluate facts, but rather focus on the application of law and procedure by the lower court.

• Example 2: Civil Rights Lawsuit

  A group of citizens in Illinois files a lawsuit in a U.S. District Court, alleging that a state government policy violates their federal civil rights. The district court rules against the citizens, finding no violation. Unhappy with this outcome, the citizens wish to challenge the ruling.

  How it illustrates the term: The citizens would appeal the district court's decision to the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, which includes Illinois. The Court of Appeals would then examine the legal arguments presented by both sides and review the district court's interpretation and application of federal civil rights law to determine if the lower court's judgment should be affirmed, reversed, or sent back for further proceedings.

• Example 3: Challenge to an Agency Decision

  A technology company in California receives a large fine from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for allegedly violating federal telecommunications regulations. The company believes the FCC misinterpreted the regulations and applied them unfairly.

  How it illustrates the term: The company can challenge the FCC's decision by filing an appeal with the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, which covers California and several other western states. In this scenario, the Court of Appeals would not conduct a new investigation into the facts of the violation but would review whether the FCC's interpretation of the law was reasonable, whether its procedures were fair, and if its decision was supported by substantial evidence.