The **Federal Appeals Court**, officially known as the United States Courts of Appeals, serves as the intermediate appellate courts in the federal judiciary. Their primary role is to review decisions made by the federal district courts and certain federal administrative agencies to ensure the law was correctly applied. They do not conduct trials but rather focus on legal interpretations and the correctness of lower court rulings. There are 13 circuits: 11 numbered circuits covering geographic regions, the District of Columbia Circuit, and the Federal Circuit, which hears specialized cases nationwide[1][2]. Historically, the federal appellate system evolved from the circuit courts established by the Judiciary Act of 1789, where Supreme Court justices "rode circuit" to hear cases regionally. This practice ended by the 1840s due to its burdensome nature. The modern U.S. Courts of Appeals were formally established by the Judiciary Act of 1891 to alleviate the Supreme Court’s workload by centralizing appellate review. The old circuit courts were phased out by 1911, and the appellate courts were renamed as "courts of appeals" in 1948[9]. The Federal Appeals Courts are highly influential, often serving as the final arbiter for the vast majority of federal cases since the Supreme Court reviews fewer than 3% of appeals. With 179 authorized judgeships, their decisions set binding precedents within their circuits, impacting millions of Americans and shaping federal law significantly. Judges are nominated by the President and confirmed by the Senate, holding lifetime tenure and earning substantial salaries[2]. Notably, the Federal Circuit court stands out for its nationwide jurisdiction over specialized areas like patents and federal claims, making it a key player in technology and business law. The courts collectively embody the judiciary’s role in the constitutional system of checks and balances, resolving disputes peacefully and interpreting federal laws in a complex, evolving legal landscape[1][2][4].