The District of Columbia Court of Appeals is the Federal District Court in Washington, DC. The circuit is often referred to as “the District”, “Washington”, and often referred to by its initials, D.C., and is the capital of the United States.

The District of Columbia is governed by the US Constitution, which gives it the jurisdictional power to Congress, so it is not governed by any one state in the United States. The Federal District courthouse sits in the District of Columbia City Hall Building at Judiciary Square. The DC Court of Appeals and the  Superior Court of the District of Columbia make up the local court system in that district.

“The court of last resort” is often what the District of Columbia is referred to, as parties should try to have their cases settled in their respective state or circuit courts. The court has the authority to hear all final orders, specified interlocutory orders, judgments, and decisions which are made by certain government agencies in D.C. The Court is also permitted to hear cases which need to have cases which present questions of law presented by the Supreme Court heard. Given its power through Congress, the court is authorized to review proposed rules from trial courts and develop its own rules for proceedings which go through the court.

Currently there are eight associate judges and the circuit judge which are hearing cases which come through the District of Columbia circuit. At this level, judges are appointed to 15-year terms after being nominated by the President and appointed by the US Senate. Currently, the chief justice of the circuit is Anna Blackburne-Rigsby, who was initially appointed during the Clinton administration as an associate judge.

Unlike other circuits, the District of Columbia circuit issues MOJs, or memorandums of justice in cases where decisions do not result in new law. MOJs are also issued in cases where cases don’t decide on an important issue/federal question, or in cases which don’t interpret a statute or concept, which hasn’t yet been decided on. The court also publishes opinions in cases where both litigants and the trial court, create a new law, interpret statutes, or interpret important concepts in the legal system.

The National Law Review covers a broad range of MOJ findings as well as case opinions which are decided by the District of Columbia circuit. We cover: federal questions, retaliation claims, cybersecurity claims, Agency news, labor and employment, and other important federally driven cases. The National Law Review also focuses on appointments, and general news and elections , bankruptcy, tax cases, and other cases which go through the circuit’s system.