United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit

The United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, known informally as the "D.C. Circuit," is the federal appellate court for the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. Appeals from the D.C. Circuit, as with all the U.S. Courts of Appeals, are heard on a discretionary basis by the Supreme Court. It should not be confused with the District of Columbia Court of Appeals, which is roughly equivalent to a state supreme court in the District of Columbia.

Related Topics:
Federal - Appellate court - U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia - Appeal - U.S. Courts of Appeals - Supreme Court - District of Columbia Court of Appeals - State supreme court - District of Columbia

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While it has the smallest geographic jurisdiction of any of the United States courts of appeals, the D.C. Circuit, with twelve active seats, is nonetheless one of the most important intermediate appellate courts. The court is given the responsibility of directly reviewing the decisions and rulemaking of many federal agencies, without prior hearing by a district court. Aside from the agencies whose statutes explicitly direct review by the D.C. Circuit, the court typically hears cases from other agencies under the more general jurisdiction granted to the Courts of Appeals under the Administrative Procedures Act. Given the broad areas over which federal agencies have power, this often gives the judges of the D.C. Circuit a central role in affecting national U.S. policy and law.

Related Topics:
Jurisdiction - Rulemaking - Agencies - Administrative Procedures Act

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A judgeship on the D.C. Circuit is often thought of as a stepping stone for appointment to the Supreme Court. Chief Justice John Roberts and Associate Justices Antonin Scalia, Clarence Thomas, and Ruth Bader Ginsburg are alumni of the D.C. Circuit. In addition, the Reagan administration put forth two failed nominees in 1987 from the D.C. Circuit: former Judge Robert Bork, who was rejected by the Senate, and current Chief Judge Douglas H. Ginsburg, who withdrew his nomination after it became known that he had used marijuana as a college student and professor in the 1960's and 1970's. Prior to the 1980's, Chief Justices Fred M. Vinson and Warren Burger, as well as Associate Justice Wiley Blount Rutledge, served originally on the D.C. Circuit before their elevations to the Supreme Court.

Related Topics:
Chief Justice - John Roberts - Associate Justices - Antonin Scalia - Clarence Thomas - Ruth Bader Ginsburg - Robert Bork - Senate - Douglas H. Ginsburg - Marijuana - Fred M. Vinson - Warren Burger - Wiley Blount Rutledge - Supreme Court

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The United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit meets at the E. Barrett Prettyman Courthouse, near Judiciary Square in downtown Washington.

Related Topics:
E. Barrett Prettyman - Judiciary Square

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