The United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (in case citations, Fed.

[1] The Federal Circuit has no jurisdiction over criminal, bankruptcy, immigration, or any U.S. state law cases.

As of 2016[update], Washington and Lee University School of Law's Millhiser Moot Courtroom had been designated as the continuity of operations site for the court.

[4] The Federal Circuit is unique among the courts of appeals in that its jurisdiction is based wholly upon subject matter, not geographic location.

Among other things, the Federal Circuit has exclusive jurisdiction over appeals from:[5] Although the Federal Circuit typically hears all appeals from any United States District Court where the original action included a complaint arising under the patent laws, the Supreme Court decided in Holmes Group, Inc. v. Vornado Air Circulation Systems, Inc. (2002)[6] that the Federal Circuit did not have jurisdiction if the patent claims arose solely as counterclaims by the defendant.

[7] However, the force of law of Holmes ended following passage of the America Invents Act of 2011, which requires the Federal Circuit to hear all appeals where the original action included a complaint or compulsory counterclaim arising under the patent laws.

The decisions of the Federal Circuit, particularly in regard to patent cases, are unique in that they are binding precedent throughout the U.S. within the bounds of the court's subject-matter jurisdiction.

Typically, once or twice a year, the court will hold oral arguments in a city outside of its native Washington D.C.

Judges who retire into senior status remain on the bench but leave their seat vacant.