Circuit Court

The Circuit Courts are the appellate courts which handle appeals from federal district courts. They generally hear cases on small panels, but may elect to hear a case en banc, which is to say, with the entirety of the Circuit's appellate judges. They are limited to federal subject matter.

The title of "circuit courts" refers to the fact that judges used to "ride the circuit" between national courthouses to administer justice fairly nationwide. This proved to be quite taxing on justices, and was suspended shortly after the enabling act's promulgation.