4 ms·

Yes that is correct. Decisions of federal appeal courts only apply in their circuit, not the entire country.

• xoa 3y ago
  Though worth noting that different circuit courts absolutely pay attention to each others rulings, even though they're not legally binding precedent. If a clear case and solid ruling happens in one circuit the others may all go on similar lines. If a different federal appeals court comes to a totally different conclusion, that's a "circuit split" and is one of the major points at which SCOTUS becomes very likely to then step in and resolve it for the whole country. If this ruling gets appealed not impossible SCOTUS would take it anyway, but I'm not enough of a court watcher to have any sense of whether it might be considered ripe or important enough from just this one instance.
  • bluGill 3y ago
    Courts below a circuit also pay attention to other circuits. If there is no ruling in their circuit a judge will cite the other circuit(s) in their ruling. (they can go either way, but they make it clear they considered it and why they think the other circuits are right/wrong) Rarely a judge will cite a different circuit and go against their own circuit, but this is very rare (either the judge will point out substantial differences from the case the circuit ruled on and those differences mean the ruling shouldn't apply - this is likely to be appealed and if the higher court remains firm it is a black mark on the lower judge; or the judge will point out the law changed and so the ruling isn't valid anymore unless the higher court rules it unconstitutional which of course then lower judge cannot do)