circuit court of appeals - one of the twelve federal United States courts of appeals that cover a group of states known as a `circuit'

Supreme Court, Supreme Court of the United States, United States Supreme Court - the highest federal court in the United States; has final appellate jurisdiction and has jurisdiction over all other courts in the nation

U.S., U.S. government, United States government, US Government, United States - the executive and legislative and judicial branches of the federal government of the United States

branch, subdivision, arm - an administrative division of some larger or more complex organization; "a branch of Congress"

jurisprudence, law - the collection of rules imposed by authority; "civilization presupposes respect for the law"; "the great problem for jurisprudence to allow freedom while enforcing order"