United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit

United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
Court name	United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
Caption	The Howard T. Markey National Courts Building in Washington, D.C., home to the court.
Established	October 1, 1982
Country	United States
Location	Washington, D.C.
Authority	Article III of the U.S. Constitution
Appeals from	Various U.S. district courts and federal agencies
Appeals to	Supreme Court of the United States
Terms	Year-round
Positions	12
Chiefjudge	Kimberly A. Moore
Website	www.cafc.uscourts.gov

United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. It is a unique Article III appellate court, created by the Federal Courts Improvement Act of 1982 through the merger of the appellate functions of the United States Court of Claims and the United States Court of Customs and Patent Appeals. Unlike the regional circuits, its jurisdiction is defined by subject matter rather than geography, making it the primary appellate forum for cases involving patent law, certain claims against the federal government, and appeals from specialized tribunals. The court's decisions have a profound impact on innovation, international trade, and federal procurement.

History

The court was established to bring uniformity to areas of law where disparate rulings from the regional circuits were causing confusion and inconsistency, particularly in patent appeals. Its creation under the Federal Courts Improvement Act of 1982 was championed by figures like H. Robert Mayer and built upon the legacies of its predecessor courts: the United States Court of Claims, which heard monetary claims against the U.S. government, and the United States Court of Customs and Patent Appeals. Key architects of the court's founding included legal scholars and members of Congress like Roman Hruska. Since its inception, the court has been instrumental in shaping a cohesive national body of law for its assigned jurisdictions, with its first chief judge being Howard T. Markey.

Jurisdiction

The court's jurisdiction is exclusively defined by statute and is nationwide in scope. Its most prominent docket consists of appeals from all district courts in patent infringement cases, as well as appeals from the United States Patent and Trademark Office. It also hears appeals from the United States Court of International Trade on matters of tariff and trade law, and from the United States Court of Federal Claims regarding monetary claims against the Federal government of the United States. Additional jurisdiction includes appeals from the Merit Systems Protection Board, the United States International Trade Commission, and certain decisions by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Commerce.

Judges

The court is composed of twelve Article III judges appointed by the President of the United States and confirmed by the United States Senate. Judges serve for life during good behavior. The current chief judge is Kimberly A. Moore, a noted scholar in intellectual property law. Notable past judges include inaugural chief judge Howard T. Markey, Paul R. Michel, who served as chief judge from 2004 to 2010, and Sharon Prost. The court often includes judges with deep expertise in specialized fields such as intellectual property law and government contracts. Vacancies are filled through the standard federal judicial appointment process, with candidates frequently vetted by the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Procedures and caseload

The court operates under the Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure and its own supplemental rules. It hears cases primarily in Washington, D.C., but may sit by designation in other federal courthouses. A typical panel consists of three judges, with en banc rehears before all active judges being relatively rare. The court manages a significant and complex docket, with patent appeals constituting a large portion of its filings. Other substantial caseloads come from the United States Court of Federal Claims and the Merit Systems Protection Board. The court is known for its use of specialized rules for intellectual property cases and its publication of key precedential opinions that guide lower tribunals and agencies.

Notable cases

The court has decided many landmark rulings that shape American law. In *Diamond v. Diehr* (predecessor court), it addressed the patentability of software. In *In re Bilski*, it established the "machine-or-transformation" test for business method patents, a decision later refined by the Supreme Court of the United States in *Bilski v. Kappos*. The case of *Teva Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc. v. Sandoz, Inc.* clarified the standard of review for claim construction in patent cases. In the realm of government contracts, *Winter v. Natural Resources Defense Council* originated in the court before reaching the Supreme Court of the United States, setting standards for preliminary injunctions. Its decisions in cases like *Nautilus, Inc. v. Biosig Instruments, Inc.* have continually defined the boundaries of patent law.

Courthouse

The court is housed in the Howard T. Markey National Courts Building (formerly the National Courts Building) on Madison Place in Washington, D.C., near Lafayette Square. This building, part of the Federal Triangle, also contains the United States Court of Federal Claims. The courthouse is named in honor of the court's first chief judge, Howard T. Markey. Its courtrooms and chambers are designed to support the court's national role, featuring technology for handling complex technical evidence often presented in patent litigation. The building's location in the nation's capital underscores the court's unique federal-wide jurisdiction.

Category:United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit Appeals, Federal Circuit Category:1982 establishments in the United States Category:Courts and tribunals established in 1982