

Supreme Court if justices seek it out or if a successful petitions to the Supreme Court results in a review the circuit court’s decision. Cases that are decided by one of the federal district courts and appealed to the 5 th Circuit may be reviewed by the U.S. district courts, three in Louisiana, two in Mississippi and four in Texas. District Courts that are within their regions. The terms of magistrate judges, who assist the circuit judges, vary.Īt the federal level the circuit or appellate courts have jurisdiction over the 94 U.S.


They are selected by the President and endorsed by Congress, taking their places on the bench for life terms. These judges receive their authority from Title III of the U.S. At this level, judges render a decision without the benefit of a jury. There are 17 judges occupying the 5 th Circuit bench. The special Federal Circuit Court of Appeals has authority over trade, patents, and similar cases. For about 40 years it also had jurisdiction in the Panama Canal Zone but that reverted to the government of Panama in the 1980s. It rules over districts in Texas, Louisiana, and Mississippi. Constitution as one of 12 regional and one special jurisdiction courts at this level. The 5 th Circuit court derives its power from the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court Structure and Function In 1981 the size of the court was reduced by breaking off Alabama, Georgia, and Florida’s districts into a new 11th Circuit court of appeals. The court was created in 1891 and is based in New Orleans, Louisiana. The 5 th Circuit Court of Appeals is an appellate court at the federal level that is subordinate to the U.S.
