The federal court circuits determined in 1866 have remained largely unchanged, except for the addition of new states and the division of two large circuits. In 1869 Congress restored the number of Supreme Court seats to nine.
Federal Judicial Center
“Federal Judicial System,” 1863 and 1866, adapted from maps by Cynthia Harrison and Deirdre Golash, Creating the Federal Judicial System, 2005
Redrawing Federal Court Circuits
Congress originally assigned Supreme Court justices to serve on circuit courts, which tried cases and heard appeals from district courts. Congress also determined circuit boundaries, redrawing them periodically. Prior to the Civil War, the president appointed a justice from each circuit. Five of the nine circuits were completely comprised of slave-holding states. After the war, the Judiciary Circuits Act of 1866 redrew circuit boundaries to weaken the influence of Southerners on the Supreme Court.
Congress determines the structure and authority of the federal court system. After the Civil War, Congress significantly revised the federal circuit courts and the number of Supreme Court justices.
The federal court circuits determined in 1866 have remained largely unchanged, except for the addition of new states and the division of two large circuits. In 1869 Congress restored the number of Supreme Court seats to nine.
Federal Judicial Center
