Omar Bennett
The federal court system in the United States has three main levels: district courts, circuit courts, and the Supreme Court. Circuit courts are court systems in several common law jurisdictions, and the term circuit court is derived from the English custom of itinerant courts, where judges would travel on pre-set paths (circuits) to hear cases from different areas. In the US, circuit courts were first established in the Thirteen British Colonies in 1789, and they served as the trial courts for most federal criminal cases, suits between citizens of different states, and civil suits initiated by the US. They existed until 1912 and had both original and appellate jurisdiction. Today, there are 13 circuit courts in the US, and they are the first level of appeal.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of circuit courts | 13 |
| Number of district courts | 94 |
| Number of bankruptcy courts | 90 |
| Number of justices in the Supreme Court | 9 |
| Number of federal circuits | 12 |
| Number of circuits in England and Wales | 6 |
| Number of circuits in Ireland | 8 |
| Year circuit courts were first established in the Thirteen British Colonies | 1789 |
| Year circuit courts were abolished | 1912 |
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What You'll Learn
Circuit courts are the first level of appeal
The federal court system in the United States has three main levels: district courts, circuit courts, and the Supreme Court. The district courts, also known as trial courts, are the starting point for any case arising under federal statutes, the Constitution, or treaties. Once the district court has decided a case, it can be appealed to a court of appeal, also known as a circuit court. There are 13 circuit courts in the United States, and they are considered the first level of appeal.
Circuit courts are court systems found in several common law jurisdictions. The term "circuit court" refers to courts that sit within a judicial circuit, which is an administrative division of a country's judiciary. In the United States, circuit courts were first established in the Thirteen British Colonies in 1789. These circuit courts exercised both original (first instance) and appellate jurisdiction. They existed until 1912, after which their original jurisdiction was transferred to the district courts, and their appellate jurisdiction was transferred to the courts of appeals.
The federal courts of appeals are intermediate courts, situated between the district courts and the Supreme Court in the judicial hierarchy. These courts sit permanently in 13 appellate circuits, consisting of 11 regional circuits, a DC Circuit, and the Federal Circuit. Smaller circuits, such as the Second Circuit, are based at a single federal courthouse, while larger circuits, like the Ninth Circuit, are spread across multiple courthouses.
The United States Supreme Court is the highest court in the nation and has the authority to decide appeals on all cases brought in federal court or those arising in state court but dealing with federal law. The Supreme Court is not required to hear every appeal and can exercise discretion in selecting the cases it reviews. However, it plays a crucial role in ensuring that each branch of the government recognises the limits of its power.
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They are organised by judicial circuit
Circuit courts are organised by judicial circuit, with judges travelling within a region or country to different towns or cities to hear cases. The term "circuit court" is derived from the English custom of itinerant courts, where judges would travel on pre-set paths or circuits to hear cases from different areas.
In the United States, circuit courts were first established in the Thirteen British Colonies in 1789. These circuit courts were established in each federal judicial district and held both original and appellate jurisdiction. The federal court system is divided into twelve regional circuits and one Federal Circuit, with thirteen circuit courts in total. These include smaller circuits like the Second and Third Circuits, which are based at a single federal courthouse, and larger circuits like the Ninth Circuit, which spans multiple courthouses.
In Ireland, the Circuit Court is part of the Courts of First Instance and its judges travel within circuits such as Dublin, Cork, Northern, and Midland. Similarly, England and Wales are divided into six circuits for the administration of justice, including the Midland Circuit and the North Eastern Circuit.
The concept of circuit courts riding within judicial circuits has evolved over time. In the past, judges would travel on horseback or by stagecoach to different towns within a circuit to hear cases. However, with increasing caseloads, most local judicial circuits have been replaced by judges stationed at local courthouses, although the term "circuit court" remains in use.
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The federal court system has three levels
The federal court system in the United States has three levels: district courts, circuit courts, and the Supreme Court.
The district courts, also known as trial courts, are the starting point for any case arising under federal statutes, the Constitution, or treaties. There are 94 district courts across the country.
The circuit courts are the first level of appeal. There are 13 circuit courts in the federal court system, which are divided into 12 regional circuits and one Federal Circuit. These courts are intermediate courts between the district courts and the Supreme Court. The circuit courts are organised by judicial circuits, such as the First Circuit or the Fifth Circuit.
The Supreme Court is the highest court in the United States and is the final level of appeal in the federal system. The Court has the power to decide appeals on all cases brought in federal court or those brought in state court dealing with federal law. The Supreme Court has original jurisdiction over certain cases, such as suits between two or more states, and appellate jurisdiction over almost any other case involving a point of constitutional or federal law. The Court also has the authority to strike down state laws found to be in violation of the Constitution.
The federal court system operates within a constitutional system of "checks and balances", where each branch of government (legislative, executive, and judicial) is formally separate but often requires cooperation with the others. For example, federal laws are passed by Congress and signed by the President, but the judicial branch has the authority to decide the constitutionality of these laws.
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The term circuit court is derived from English custom
The term "circuit court" is derived from the English custom of itinerant courts, where judges would travel periodically on pre-set paths or "circuits" to hear cases from different areas. The first formal circuits were established in 1293, when a statute was enacted to create four assize circuits. It was previously thought that these circuits dated back to the reign of Henry II, when the eyre was used in common pleas. However, legal historians like Ralph Pugh argued in the 1950s that the eyre was just one of several experiments in "systematized itinerant justice" during the late 12th and 13th centuries.
In the United States, circuit courts were first established in the Thirteen British Colonies in 1789 as federal courts within each judicial district. These courts had both original and appellate jurisdiction until 1912. The justices of the Supreme Court were also responsible for "riding circuit" and hearing cases in these circuit courts, in addition to their duties in Washington, D.C. This practice became impractical with westward expansion and was repealed in 1891.
Today, circuit courts in the US refer to the first level of appeal, below the Supreme Court. There are 13 appellate circuits, including 11 regional circuits, a DC Circuit, and the Federal Circuit. These courts are intermediate between the district courts and the Supreme Court, reviewing the application of law in trial courts.
In Ireland, the Circuit Court is part of the Courts of First Instance, senior to the District Court but junior to the High Court. It was established in 1924 and covers civil and criminal cases. The term "circuit" refers to the circuits travelled by judges, including Dublin, Cork, Northern, Western, Eastern, and Midland.
England and Wales are divided into six circuits for the administration of justice: Midland, North Eastern, Northern, South Eastern, Western, and Wales and Chester. These circuits are overseen by the Lord Chancellor and include High Court Judges, Circuit Judges, and other legal professionals.
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The US circuit courts were established in 1789
The term "circuit court" is derived from the English custom of itinerant courts, where judges would travel on pre-set paths or circuits to hear cases from different areas. In the US, circuit courts were first established in the Thirteen British Colonies. Each circuit court was composed of two Supreme Court justices and the district judge of the district. The circuit courts exercised both original (first instance) and appellate jurisdiction. They had trial court jurisdiction over civil suits of diversity jurisdiction and major federal crimes.
The federal court system has three main levels: district courts (the trial court), circuit courts (the first level of appeal), and the Supreme Court of the United States (the final level of appeal). There are 94 district courts, 13 circuit courts, and one Supreme Court throughout the country. The federal courts of appeals are intermediate courts, between the district courts and the Supreme Court.
The US Supreme Court is the highest court in the United States, with the power to decide appeals on all cases brought in federal court or those brought in state court but dealing with federal law. The Supreme Court also has original jurisdiction (a case is tried before the Court) and appellate jurisdiction (the Court can hear the case on appeal).
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Frequently asked questions
Circuit courts are the first level of appeal above district courts and below the Supreme Court. They hear cases from district courts in their designated region.
There are 13 circuit courts in the US, each covering a different region.
Circuit courts have jurisdiction over cases that have been tried in district courts within their region. They can hear appeals from district court decisions and determine whether the law was applied correctly.
Circuit courts were first established in the Thirteen British Colonies. The Judiciary Act of 1789 established circuit courts in each federal judicial district, and they functioned until 1912. The original jurisdiction previously held by these circuit courts is now exercised by US district courts.
Circuit courts are composed of three judges: two Supreme Court justices and one district judge of the region.
