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Circuits

Circuits are the regional division under the United States Federal Courts system.  There are 12 regional circuits organized from the 94 U.S. judicial districts.  The Thirteenth Circuit is the Federal Judicial Circuit, which has nationwide jurisdiction over certain appeals based on subject matter.

Pursuant to 28 USCS § 41 the thirteen judicial circuits of the United States are constituted as follows:  

Circuits

Composition

District of ColumbiaDistrict of Columbia
First CircuitMaine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island
Second CircuitConnecticut, New York, Vermont
Third CircuitDelaware, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virgin Islands
Fourth CircuitMaryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia
Fifth CircuitDistrict of the Canal Zone, Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas
Sixth CircuitKentucky, Michigan, Ohio, Tennessee
Seventh CircuitIllinois, Indiana, Wisconsin
Eighth CircuitArkansas, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota
Ninth CircuitAlaska, Arizona, California, Idaho, Montana,  Nevada, Oregon, Washington, Guam, Hawaii
Tenth CircuitColorado, Kansas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Utah, Wyoming.
Eleventh CircuitAlabama, Florida, Georgia.
Federal CircuitAll Federal Judicial Districts.

Under 28 USCS § 44 (a), the President appoints the Circuit Judges for the several circuits by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, as follows: 

Circuits

Number of Judges

District of Columbia

11

First Circuit

6

Second Circuit

13

Third Circuit

14

Fourth Circuit

15

Fifth Circuit

17

Sixth Circuit

16

Seventh Circuit

11

Eighth Circuit

11

Ninth Circuit

29

Tenth Circuit

12

Eleventh Circuit

12

Federal Circuit

12

 28 USCS § 44 (c) provides that each circuit judge shall be a resident of the Circuit for which appointed at the time of his appointment and thereafter while in active service.  An exception to this rule is District of Columbia.


Inside Circuits