Circuit Court Map
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Circuit Court Map
The Circuit Court System
The United States is divided into 12 regional circuits, each of which has its own federal appeals
court (also known as the circuit court of appeals). In addition, the Court of Appeals for the Federal
Circuit has nationwide jurisdiction to hear appeals in specialized cases, such as those involving
patent laws and cases decided by the Court of International Trade and the Court of Federal
Claims.
Decisions made by judges on these courts apply to all of the states contained in their respective
circuits. Because so few cases are accepted for further review by the Supreme Court, most
appeals court rulings are the last word, at least for the states covered by the circuit court making
the decision.
The Supreme Court
The US Supreme Court is the highest of the federal courts and has the final word on appeals
from the federal circuit courts.
