Guide to Federal Records

Records of the United States Courts of Appeals


(Record Group 276)
1891-1995

Overview of Records Locations

Table of Contents

  • 276.1 Administrative History
  • 276.2 Records of the First Circuit (MA, ME, NH, RI, and Puerto Rico) 1891-1972
  • 276.3 Records of the Second Circuit (CT, NY, and VT) 1891-1968
  • 276.4 Records of the Third Circuit (DE, NJ, PA, and Virgin Islands)1891-1989
  • 276.5 Records of the Fourth Circuit (MD, NC, SC, VA, and WV) 1891-1986
  • 276.6 Records of the Fifth Circuit (AL, FL, GA, LA, MS, and TX) 1891-1995
  • 276.7 Records of the Sixth Circuit (KY, MI, OH, and TN)1891-1964
  • 276.8 Records of the Seventh Circuit (IL, IN, and WI) 1891-1968
  • 276.9 Records of the Eighth Circuit (AR, IA, MN, MO, ND, NE, and SD) 1891-1970
  • 276.10 Records of the Ninth Circuit (AK, AZ, CA, HI, ID, MT, NV, OR, WA, Guam, and Northern Mariana Islands) 1892-1964
  • 276.11 Records of the Tenth Circuit (CO, KS, NM, OK, UT, and WY) 1929-62
  • 276.12 Records of the District of Columbia Circuit (DC) 1893-1967
  • 276.13 Textual Records (General) 1893-1974

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276.1 Administrative History

Established: As elements of the federal court system by an act of March 3, 1891 (26 Stat. 826), acquiring the appellate jurisdiction of the U.S. Circuit Courts, which had been established by the Judiciary Act of 1789 (1 Stat. 76), September 24, 1789. Initially consisted of nine courts (First-Ninth Circuits). The District of Columbia Circuit was established by an act of February 9, 1893 (27 Stat. 435), and the Tenth Circuit was formed from part of the Eighth Circuit by an act of February 28, 1929 (45 Stat. 1346). The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit was established, effective October 1, 1982, by the Federal Courts Improvement Act of 1982 (96 Stat. 25), April 2, 1982.

Predecessor Agencies: U.S. Circuit Courts (appellate jurisdiction only, 1789-1891)

Functions: Consider appeals in cases originally decided by federal trial courts. Review final and certain interlocutory decisions of district courts except where the law provides for direct review by the Supreme Court. Review orders of federal administrative bodies.

Finding Aids: Preliminary inventory in National Archives microfiche edition of preliminary inventories.

Related Records:
Records of District Courts of the United States, RG 21.
Records of the United States Court of Claims, RG 123.
Records of the Supreme Court of the United States, RG 267.

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276.2 Records of the First Circuit (MA, ME, NH, RI, and Puerto
Rico)
1891-1972

Textual Records (in Boston): Case files, 1891-1972.

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276.3 Records of the Second Circuit (CT, NY, and VT)
1891-1968

Textual Records (in New York): Case files, 1891-1968.

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276.4 Records of the Third Circuit (DE, NJ, PA, and Virgin
Islands)
1891-1989

Textual Records (in Philadelphia): Dockets, minutes, opinions, and case files, 1891-1989. Correspondence relating to cases, 1969-72. Administrative records of the Circuit Executive, 1945-78, and records of the Judicial Conference, 1932-81.

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276.5 Records of the Fourth Circuit (MD, NC, SC, VA, and WV)
1891-1986

Textual Records (in Philadelphia): Dockets, minutes, opinions, and case files, 1891-1986. Briefs, 1971-78.

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276.6 Records of the Fifth Circuit (AL, FL, GA, LA, MS, and TX)
1891-1995

Textual Records (in Fort Worth): Dockets, minutes, opinions, and case files, 1891-1990. Case files relating to George Rodan of the Branch Davidians, ca. 1994-95.

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276.7 Records of the Sixth Circuit (KY, MI, OH, and TN)
1891-1964

Textual Records (in Chicago): Case files, transcripts, and briefs, 1891-1964.

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276.8 Records of the Seventh Circuit (IL, IN, and WI)
1891-1968

Textual Records (in Chicago): Dockets, minutes, opinions, and case files, 1891-1968.

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276.9 Records of the Eighth Circuit (AR, IA, MN, MO, ND, NE, and
SD)
1891-1970

Textual Records (in Kansas City): Dockets, minutes, briefs, opinions, fee books, and case files, 1891-1970.

Related Records: Record copies of publications of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Judicial Circuit in RG 287,Publications of the U.S. Government.

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276.10 Records of the Ninth Circuit (AK, AZ, CA, HI, ID, MT, NV,
OR, WA, Guam, and Northern Mariana Islands)
1892-1964

Textual Records (in San Francisco): Case files and minutes, 1892-1964.

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276.11 Records of the Tenth Circuit (CO, KS, NM, OK, UT, and WY)
1929-62

Textual Records (in Denver): Correspondence and case files, 1929-62.

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276.12 Records of the District of Columbia Circuit (DC)
1893-1967

Textual Records: Records relating to general docket cases, consisting of transcripts of record, 1893-1958 (980 ft.); case files, 1893-1953; briefs, 1893-1967 (525 ft.); and opinions, 1893-1958. Original docket case files, 1893-1961. Miscellaneous docket case files, 1941-63. Court minutes and briefs, 1938-62. Mandates,1895-1965. Attorney's files, 1921-57. Records relating to patent appeal docket cases, consisting of transcripts of record, 1893-1929 (190 ft.); case files, 1893-1928; and briefs, 1893-1927 (204 ft.).

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276.13 Textual Records (General)
1893-1974

General appellate jurisdiction docket books, 1893-1974.


Bibliographic note: Web version based on Guide to Federal Records in the National Archives of the United States. Compiled by Robert B. Matchette et al. Washington, DC: National Archives and Records Administration, 1995.
3 volumes, 2428 pages.

Ordering information

This Web version is updated from time to time to include records processed since 1995.


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