United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit

United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit is a federal court with appellate jurisdiction over the district courts in the Third Circuit, which includes the District of Delaware, District of New Jersey, Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Middle District of Pennsylvania, and Western District of Pennsylvania. The court is headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, with judges also hearing cases in Wilmington, Delaware, and Trenton, New Jersey. The court has jurisdiction over cases originating from the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, New Jersey Supreme Court, and Delaware Supreme Court, among others. The court's decisions are binding on the United States District Court for the District of Delaware, United States District Court for the District of New Jersey, United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, and United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania.

● Introduction

The court was established on June 16, 1891, by 22 Stat. 836, with its first session held on June 2, 1892, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The court has a rich history, with notable judges including John Joseph Gibbons, Leon Higginbotham Jr., and Sylvia H. Rambo. The court's jurisdiction includes a wide range of cases, from Federal Communications Commission regulations to Internal Revenue Service disputes, and from Environmental Protection Agency decisions to Federal Trade Commission actions. The court has also heard cases related to the National Labor Relations Act, Fair Labor Standards Act, and Civil Rights Act of 1964, among others, with notable cases including Brown v. Board of Education and Roe v. Wade. The court's decisions have been influential in shaping the law in areas such as antitrust law, intellectual property law, and employment law, with notable cases including United States v. Microsoft and Kewanee Oil Co. v. Bicron Corp..

● Jurisdiction

The court has jurisdiction over cases originating from the District of Delaware, District of New Jersey, Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Middle District of Pennsylvania, and Western District of Pennsylvania. The court also has jurisdiction over cases related to the Federal Communications Commission, Federal Trade Commission, Securities and Exchange Commission, and other federal agencies, including the National Transportation Safety Board, Federal Aviation Administration, and Federal Maritime Commission. The court's jurisdiction includes cases involving federal question jurisdiction, diversity jurisdiction, and supplemental jurisdiction, as well as cases related to the Bankruptcy Code and Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. The court has also heard cases related to the Americans with Disabilities Act, Age Discrimination in Employment Act, and Family and Medical Leave Act, among others, with notable cases including Board of Trustees of the University of Alabama v. Garrett and Nevada Department of Human Resources v. Hibbs.

● Procedure

The court hears cases in panels of three judges, with the option to hear cases en banc, as seen in United States v. Booker. The court's procedure is governed by the Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure, which outline the rules for filing appeals, briefs, and motions. The court also has its own local rules, which provide additional guidance on procedure, including the Local Rules of the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. The court's judges are assisted by law clerks, who help with research and drafting opinions, and by staff attorneys, who help with case management and research. The court's decisions are typically published in the Federal Reporter, and are also available on the court's website, which provides access to PACER, the Public Access to Court Electronic Records system.

● Current composition

The court currently has 14 active judges, including Cheryl Ann Krause, Thomas L. Ambro, and Kent A. Jordan. The court also has several senior judges, including Anthony Joseph Scirica, Robert Cowen, and Maryanne Trump Barry, who continue to hear cases on a part-time basis. The court's judges are appointed by the President of the United States and confirmed by the United States Senate, as required by Article III of the United States Constitution. The court's judges serve lifetime appointments, as provided by 28 U.S.C. § 453. The court's current composition reflects the diversity of the Third Circuit, with judges from a variety of backgrounds and with expertise in a range of areas, including corporate law, tax law, and intellectual property law.

● Notable cases

The court has heard many notable cases, including United States v. Microsoft, Kewanee Oil Co. v. Bicron Corp., and Hartmann v. Time, Inc.. The court has also heard cases related to the USA PATRIOT Act, Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, and National Security Agency, among others. The court's decisions have been influential in shaping the law in areas such as antitrust law, intellectual property law, and employment law, with notable cases including United States v. AT&T and International Shoe Co. v. Washington. The court has also heard cases related to the First Amendment, Fourth Amendment, and Fifth Amendment, among others, with notable cases including New York Times Co. v. Sullivan and Miranda v. Arizona.

● History

The court was established on June 16, 1891, by 22 Stat. 836, with its first session held on June 2, 1892, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The court has a rich history, with notable judges including John Joseph Gibbons, Leon Higginbotham Jr., and Sylvia H. Rambo. The court has heard cases related to the Spanish-American War, World War I, and World War II, among others, with notable cases including Ex parte Quirin and Korematsu v. United States. The court's decisions have been influential in shaping the law in areas such as civil rights law, labor law, and environmental law, with notable cases including Brown v. Board of Education and Sierra Club v. Morton. The court's history reflects the evolution of the law and the Third Circuit, with notable events including the Judiciary Act of 1891 and the Judiciary Act of 1925.

Category:United States courts of appeals