The Phoenix Court

Like the famed Phoenix, the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit rose on October 1, 1982, from the ashes of two former courts. On that day, the 127 year old United States Court of Claims and the 73 year old United States Court of Customs and Patent Appeals went out of existence, leaving a history of outstanding contributions to the administration of justice. Though every federal court serves the role on numerous occasions, the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit should in a special way earn the title of "The Conscience of the Government." This article briefly discusses the operation of the new court and the role it will fill in the federal court system.