Criminology Term: Court of Appeals
The Court of Appeals is a federal court that holds dominion over the review of decisions handed down by inferior federal courts, regulatory entities, and administrative agencies in the United States.
Each regional circuit boasts its own Court of Appeals, and this court sits just one rung beneath the illustrious Supreme Court in the federal court system.
The Court of Appeals is tasked with scrutinizing the decisions of the lower courts to confirm that they were rendered in accordance with the law, and it may also hear appeals from administrative agencies and regulatory bodies.
With the ability to reverse, affirm, or alter the decisions made by lower courts or administrative agencies, the Court of Appeals wields an immense amount of power.
The judges who occupy the bench in the Court of Appeals are appointed by the President of the United States, and their appointment must be confirmed by the Senate.
Judges serve for life, barring any resignations or impeachment proceedings. Each circuit has a Chief Judge, who is responsible for managing the court's administrative matters.
Decisions made by the Court of Appeals carry significant weight, binding lower courts within the same circuit.
However, if there is a conflict between the decisions made in two different circuits, the Supreme Court can intercede to resolve the discord and establish a uniform interpretation of the law.
