Glossary of Legal Terms: Court of appeals and Circuit

Court of appeals: The thirteen courts of appeals are federal courts that hear appeals "“ mostly from federal district (i.e., trial) courts, but also from federal administrative agencies.  Of all the cases the Supreme Court hears, the vast majority come from federal courts of appeals.  A court of appealsis often referred to by the name or number of its circuit (i.e., “Ninth Circuit”).

Circuit: The United States is divided into thirteen circuits with  a different court of appeals (see a map here).  Eleven of the circuits are numbered first to eleventh.  The District of Columbia has its own that hears many cases involving the federal government.  

The Federal Circuit's jurisdiction is not geographic.  Instead, it hears cases involving particular subject matters, such as patents and international trade.  Courts of appeals are often referred to by the name or number of their circuit; for example, the "Ninth Circuit."