The United States Courts for the Ninth Circuit consists of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, and the district and bankruptcy courts and related court units for the Districts of Alaska, Arizona, Northern California, Central California, Eastern California, Southern California, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Eastern Washington, Western Washington, the U.S. Territory of Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.
U.S. district courts are the trial courts of the federal court system and have jurisdiction to hear nearly all categories of federal cases, including both civil and criminal matters. U.S. bankruptcy courts hear bankruptcy matters, which involve resolution of debt owed by debtors to creditors. Within the Ninth Circuit, there are 15 district courts, including four in California and two in Washington, and 13 bankruptcy courts. The district courts in Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands also hear bankruptcy cases.
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit hears appeals of decisions made by the trial courts, as well as appeals of decisions made by federal administrative agencies. Appeals of rulings made by bankruptcy judges may be taken to the district court or to the Ninth Circuit's Bankruptcy Appellate Panel. Bankruptcy decisions by the district court and BAP may be appealed to the court of appeals.
Appeals are decided by panels of three randomly drawn judges. Some cases are decided on the basis of written legal briefs filed on behalf of the parties, while others are selected for an "oral argument" before the panel by attorneys representing the parties. In a rare instances, a case will be reheard en banc by a panel of 15 judges of the court.
Decisions by the court of appeals are usually final, unless it sends the case back to the trial court for additional proceedings, or the case is accepted for review by the Supreme Court of the United States.
Ninth Circuit Committee Tackles Space and Security Issues
The Judiciary moved to contain costs for space and facilities in 2004 by enacting moratoriums on a broad range of projects. Although not unaffected by the building freeze, the Ninth Circuit’s two biggest undertakings, new courthouses in Los Angeles and San Diego, were deemed critical projects that should go forward. The circuit also celebrated the opening of one new courthouse and groundbreaking for a second. read more
Historic Courthouse Renamed for Legendary Judge
An architectural jewel among public buildings in the West, the San Francisco courthouse that has housed the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals since 1905 was named for Senior Circuit Judge James R. Browning, an influential member of the court for more than four decades. read more