List of United States courts of appeals cases

Every year, each of the thirteen United States courts of appeals decides hundreds of cases. Of those, a few are so important that they later become models for decisions of other circuits, and of the United States Supreme Court, while others are noted for being dramatically rejected by the Supreme Court on appeal. Still others are notable for being written with such a clear and concise explanation of the states of the law that they are used by multiple law school casebooks to teach the area of law addressed. The notable decisions of these courts are listed in chronological order by circuit.

  • Cowden v. Commissioner, 289 F.2d 20 (5th Cir. 1961): Outlining the factors used to determine whether something received is a cash equivalent, and therefore taxable.
  • Dixon v. Alabama 294 F. 2d 150 (5th Cir. 1961): Tax-funded college cannot expel students without due process.
  • Hawkins v. Town of Shaw, 437 F.2d 1286 (5th Cir. 1971): Equal Protection Clause applied to distribution of municipal services and infrastructure.
  • Gates v. Collier, 501 F. 2d 1291 (5th Cir. 1974): Abolished racial segregation in prisons and held that various forms of corporal punishment against prisoners constitute cruel and unusual punishment in violation of the Eighth Amendment.
  • Smith v. Pilots Union, 296 F.3d 380 (5th Cir. 2002): Six-month period of limitations applies to Smith's suit against the Union whether or not he was a supervisor.
  • McCorvey v. Hill, 385 F.3d 846 (5th Cir. 2004): Original party to the decision in Roe v. Wade lacked standing to have the case re-opened after 30 years.
  • Horvath v. City of Leander, No. 18-51011 (5th Cir. 2020): An employer may require employees to receive vaccinations, so long as the employer makes reasonable accommodations to religious objections, even if the accommodations offered are not ideal for the employee.

Federal Circuit (and its predecessor courts)

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  • State Street Bank & Trust Co. v. Signature Financial Group, Inc., 149 F.3d 1368 (Fed. Cir. 1998): An invention was eligible for patent protection if it involved some practical application and "produces a useful, concrete and tangible result". Later overturned by another decision.
  • Jazz Photo Corp. v. United States International Trade Commission, 264 F. 3d 1094 (Fed. Cir. 2001): Repair and reconstruction of patented items is permissible under the patent law.
  • Schism v. United States, 316 F.3d 1259 (Fed. Cir. 2002) (en banc): Military could not be held to promises made by recruiters of lifetime health care for enlistees, where Congress did not provide for such.
  • Buchanan v. Nicholson, 451 F.3d 1331 (Fed. Cir. 2006): Competent lay evidence can be sufficient to establish a service-connection award without any contemporaneous medical evidence.
  • In re Bilski, 545 F.3d 943, 88 U.S.P.Q.2d 1385 (Fed. Cir. 2008) (en banc): Machine-or-transformation test is the sole applicable test for patent-eligible subject matter, overturning State Street Bank & Trust Co. v. Signature Financial Group, Inc.; decision was affirmed with modifications by the U.S. Supreme Court.

Court of Claims

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See also

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