United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit facts for kids
Quick facts for kids United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit |
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| Location | E. Barrett Prettyman U.S. Courthouse |
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| Established | February 9, 1893 |
| Judges | 11 |
| Circuit Justice | John Roberts |
| Chief Judge | Sri Srinivasan |
The United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit (often called the D.C. Circuit) is one of the thirteen special courts in the United States Courts of Appeals. This court handles cases from only one area: the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. It meets in Washington, D.C. at the E. Barrett Prettyman United States Courthouse.
This court is considered very important. Many people see it as the second most powerful court in the U.S., right after the U.S. Supreme Court. This is because Washington, D.C. is where the U.S. Capitol and many important government offices are located. So, the D.C. Circuit often deals with big legal questions about how the government works.
Many judges from this court have gone on to become Supreme Court justices. For example, four of the nine current Supreme Court justices used to be judges here. These include Chief Justice John Roberts, and Justices Clarence Thomas, Brett Kavanaugh, and Ketanji Brown Jackson.
It can sometimes be easier to confirm judges for this court than for other appeals courts. This is because the D.C. Circuit does not represent a specific state.
Contents
What is This Court?
The D.C. Circuit is a federal appeals court. This means it reviews decisions made by lower courts. It makes sure that laws were applied correctly. It does not hold new trials or hear new evidence.
Why is the D.C. Circuit So Important?
This court handles many cases involving the U.S. government. These cases often deal with rules made by federal agencies. Because of this, the D.C. Circuit shapes how the government operates. Its decisions can affect people all across the country.
Who Works at the Court?
The D.C. Circuit has a Chief Judge and several Circuit Judges. These judges are appointed by the President. They serve for life unless they retire or are removed. As of early 2024, there are 11 active judges. There are also senior judges who still work but have a reduced caseload.
Chief judges have administrative responsibilities with respect to their circuits, and preside over any panel on which they serve, unless the circuit justice (the Supreme Court justice responsible for the circuit) is also on the panel. Unlike the Supreme Court, where one justice is specifically nominated to be chief, the office of chief judge rotates among the circuit judges.
To be chief, a judge must have been in active service on the court for at least one year, be under the age of 65, and have not previously served as chief judge. A vacancy is filled by the judge highest in seniority among the group of qualified judges, with seniority determined first by commission date, then by age. The chief judge serves for a term of seven years, or until age 70, whichever occurs first. If no judge qualifies to be chief, the youngest judge over the age of 65 who has served on the court for at least one year shall act as chief until another judge qualifies. If no judge has served on the court for more than a year, the most senior judge shall act as chief. Judges can forfeit or resign their chief judgeship or acting chief judgeship while retaining their active status as a circuit judge.
When the office was created in 1948, the chief judge was the longest-serving judge who had not elected to retire, on what has since 1958 been known as senior status, or declined to serve as chief judge. After August 6, 1959, judges could not become or remain chief after turning 70 years old. The current rules have been in operation since October 1, 1982.
How the Court is Led
When this court started in 1893, it had a "chief justice." This was like the Supreme Court's leader. The chief justice was appointed to that specific role. They stayed chief justice until they left the court.
Later, in 1948, laws changed this. The "chief justice" became a "chief judge." This made the D.C. Circuit's leader similar to the chief judges of other appeals courts. The Chief Judge now leads the court's operations.
See also
In Spanish: Corte de Apelaciones de los Estados Unidos para el Circuito del Distrito de Columbia para niños
