History of United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit in Timeline

The United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, based in San Francisco, California, is a federal appellate court. It holds appellate jurisdiction over the U.S. district courts in Alaska, Arizona, California (Central, Eastern, Northern, and Southern Districts), Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington (Eastern and Western Districts). It is one of the thirteen United States Courts of Appeals.

1900: Territory of Hawaii added to Ninth Circuit

In 1900, the newly acquired Territory of Hawaii was placed in the Ninth Circuit's jurisdiction.

1906: Ninth Circuit gains jurisdiction over U.S. Court for China

In 1906, the Ninth Circuit gained jurisdiction over appeals from the United States Court for China.

1912: Arizona added to Ninth Circuit

In 1912, Arizona was placed in the Ninth Circuit's jurisdiction upon its admission to the Union.

1943: Jurisdiction over U.S. Court for China ends

In 1943, the Ninth Circuit's jurisdiction over appeals from the United States Court for China ended with the court's existence.

1948: Territory of Alaska added to Ninth Circuit

In 1948, the Territory of Alaska was placed in the Ninth Circuit's jurisdiction.

1948: Chief judge rules in 1948

When the office was created in 1948, the chief judge was the longest-serving judge who had not elected to retire, on what has since 1958 been known as senior status, or declined to serve as chief judge.

1951: Guam added to Ninth Circuit

In 1951, Guam was placed in the Ninth Circuit's jurisdiction.

1958: Senior status

August 6, 1959: Chief Judge age limit

After August 6, 1959, judges could not become or remain chief after turning 70 years old.

1977: Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands added to Ninth Circuit

In 1977, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands was placed in the Ninth Circuit's jurisdiction.

1978: Bankruptcy Reform Act

The Bankruptcy Reform Act was enacted in 1978, which later authorized the Ninth Circuit to set up a Bankruptcy Appellate Panel in 1979.

1979: Ninth Circuit Sets Up Bankruptcy Appellate Panel

In 1979, the Ninth Circuit became the first federal judicial circuit to set up a Bankruptcy Appellate Panel.

October 1, 1982: Current rules have been in operation

The current rules have been in operation since October 1, 1982.

1994: Fitzpatrick study period on Ninth Circuit reversal rates begins

In 2018, a study by Brian T. Fitzpatrick at Vanderbilt University reported that the Ninth Circuit's decisions were reversed at a rate of 2.50 cases per thousand between 1994 and 2015.

1998: Judge Kleinfeld comments on federal law

In 1998, Judge Andrew J. Kleinfeld, who maintained his judicial chambers in Fairbanks, Alaska, wrote a letter commenting on the challenges of construing federal law unfamiliar to the Ninth Circuit.

1999: Ninth Circuit Court rulings Supreme Court review rate begins

From 1999 to 2008, of the Ninth Circuit Court rulings that were accepted for review by the Supreme Court, 20% were affirmed, 19% were vacated, and 61% were reversed; the median reversal rate for all federal appellate courts was 68.29% for the same period.

March 2007: Supreme Court Justices Advocate Splitting the Ninth Circuit

In March 2007, Associate Justices Anthony Kennedy and Clarence Thomas testified before a House Appropriations subcommittee that the consensus among the justices of the Supreme Court of the United States was that the Ninth Circuit was too large and unwieldy and should be split.

2008: Ninth Circuit Court rulings Supreme Court review rate ends

2010: Ninth Circuit Court rulings Supreme Court review rate begins

From 2010 to 2015, of the cases it accepted to review, the Supreme Court reversed around 79% of the cases from the Ninth Circuit, ranking its reversal rate third among the circuits; the median reversal rate for all federal circuits for the same time period was around 70 percent.

2015: Ninth Circuit Court rulings Supreme Court review rate ends

2015: Fitzpatrick study period on Ninth Circuit reversal rates ends

In 2018, a study by Brian T. Fitzpatrick at Vanderbilt University reported that the Ninth Circuit's decisions were reversed at a rate of 2.50 cases per thousand between 1994 and 2015.

2018: Fitzpatrick study on Ninth Circuit reversal rates

In 2018, a study by Brian T. Fitzpatrick at Vanderbilt University reported that the Ninth Circuit's decisions were reversed at a rate of 2.50 cases per thousand between 1994 and 2015.