United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit

United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
Court name	United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
Established	0 1891
Country	United States
Location	James R. Browning United States Courthouse, San Francisco, California
Authority	Article III of the U.S. Constitution
Appeals from	District courts within the Ninth Circuit
Terms	Life tenure
Positions	29
Chiefjudgetitle	Chief Judge
Chiefjudgename	Mary H. Murguia
Website	http://www.ca9.uscourts.gov/

United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. It is a federal court with appellate jurisdiction over one of the thirteen circuits defined by federal law. The court, established by the Judiciary Act of 1891, is the largest of the appellate circuits, both in geographic scope and number of active judges. Its decisions are binding on all district courts within its territory and are reviewable only by the Supreme Court of the United States.

History

The court was created by the Evarts Act, which reorganized the federal judiciary and established the intermediate appellate circuit courts. Initially covering California, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington, its jurisdiction expanded significantly with the admission of new states and the reorganization of other circuits. The addition of Alaska and Hawaii as states, along with the Territory of Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and the Territory of American Samoa, solidified its status as a Pacific-facing circuit. A major structural change occurred in 1929 when the Tenth Circuit was formed from its eastern portions. The court's headquarters moved to the James R. Browning United States Courthouse in San Francisco in the 1990s, a building named for former Chief Judge James R. Browning.

Jurisdiction

The court hears appeals from the district courts in nine western states and several territories. These include the District of Alaska, the District of Arizona, and the Central District of California, among others. It also reviews decisions from certain federal administrative agencies and has original jurisdiction over a limited set of writs. Decisions from the District of Guam, the District of the Northern Mariana Islands, and the District of Hawaii are also appealed to this court.

Current composition of the court

As authorized by Congress, the court currently has 29 authorized judgeships for active judges. The Chief Judge is Mary H. Murguia, who succeeded Sidney R. Thomas. Judges are appointed by the President of the United States and confirmed by the United States Senate for Life tenure. The bench includes judges appointed by presidents from both major political parties, including appointees of Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, Barack Obama, Donald Trump, and Joe Biden. Notable active judges include John B. Owens and Morgan Christen. The court also utilizes a large number of senior judges and magistrate judges to manage its substantial docket.

Notable cases

The court has ruled on many high-profile and socially consequential cases. In *Perry v. Brown (later *Hollingsworth v. Perry*), it upheld a decision striking down Proposition 8. It has issued significant rulings on immigration policy, including challenges to executive actions by the Trump administration. Environmental law cases, such as those involving the Endangered Species Act and land use in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, are frequent. Other landmark decisions have addressed First Amendment rights, Indian reservation sovereignty, and the procedural rights of detainees.

Administration and courthouses

The court's main administrative headquarters and primary courtroom are located in the James R. Browning United States Courthouse in San Francisco. The circuit also maintains permanent staffed circuit offices in Seattle at the William K. Nakamura Courthouse and in Pasadena at the Richard H. Chambers United States Court of Appeals. The Clerk of Court oversees the court's administration. The circuit's library system supports its judges and bar. The Federal Judicial Center often collaborates on training and research for the circuit's personnel.

Caseload and criticism

The court consistently has the largest caseload of any federal appellate circuit, a function of the population and legal activity within its jurisdiction, which includes major centers like Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Phoenix. This has led to periodic calls, often from political conservatives and some members of Congress, to split the circuit, arguing its size leads to inefficiency and ideological imbalance. Proposals often suggest creating a new Twelfth Circuit from its eastern states. Defenders argue its size provides expertise and consistency on issues unique to the American West and the Pacific Rim. The court's reversal rate by the Supreme Court of the United States is frequently analyzed, though statistics vary annually and by legal issue.

Category:United States courts of appeals Category:1891 establishments in the United States Category:Courts and tribunals established in 1891