Why Circuit Courts?
The twelve United States Courts of Appeal are traditionally known as “circuit courts”. After the Supreme Court was formed, it was expected that Supreme Court justices would travel around the country twice a year visiting a “circuit” of courts in different states. Unfortunately, travel was a slow and difficult process in the late 18th century, and the Justices found it difficult to leave Washington on a regular basis. Although Congress passed several laws creating new courts, Supreme Court justices continued to ride the circuit until 1891, when Congress created the Circuit Courts of Appeal. In 1948, the official name was changed to United States Courts of Appeal. The concept of a judicial “circuit” still lives on today. Each of the twelve Courts of Appeal covers its own individual circuit. For example, the United States Court of Appeal for the Eleventh Circuit handles cases from the states of Alabama, Florida, and Georgia. The judges of the Eleventh Circuit hear most cases in the court’
