Bar Exam Practice Questions 2025 – Your All-in-One Guide to Mastering the Bar Exam!

The correct answer is that there are 13 Circuit Courts of Appeals in the United States. This includes 12 regional Circuit Courts that generally cover specific geographic areas and one Federal Circuit Court that has a special jurisdiction, including appeals in patent cases and international trade. Each of these courts is responsible for hearing appeals from the decisions of federal district courts within their jurisdiction, as well as some federal administrative agencies.

The distinction of having a 13th court, the Federal Circuit, is important as it serves a unique role compared to the regional courts. It provides uniformity in specialized areas of law and is a critical component of the federal judicial system, alongside the 12 regional Circuits that handle a broad range of federal appeals.

Given this structure, it's clear that the assertion of 12 Circuit Courts is insufficient because it omits the special jurisdiction of the Federal Circuit, hence why that answer does not accurately capture the overview of the U.S. Circuit Courts of Appeals.