Legal Definitions - Court of Appeals, U.S.

Definition: The Court of Appeals, U.S. is a federal appellate court that has the authority to hear cases in one of the 13 judicial circuits of the United States. These circuits include the First Circuit through the Eleventh Circuit, as well as the District of Columbia Circuit and the Federal Circuit. It is also known as the circuit court.

Examples: If a person is unhappy with the decision made by a district court, they can appeal to the Court of Appeals. For example, if a person is convicted of a crime in the District of Columbia, they can appeal to the District of Columbia Circuit Court of Appeals. Another example is if a person is involved in a patent dispute, they can appeal to the Federal Circuit Court of Appeals.

Explanation: The Court of Appeals, U.S. is an important part of the federal court system. It provides a way for people to appeal decisions made by lower courts. The examples illustrate how a person can appeal to the Court of Appeals if they are unhappy with a decision made by a district court. The Court of Appeals will then review the case and make a decision based on the evidence presented.