List of current United States circuit judges explained

This is a list of the judges of the United States courts of appeals. The United States Courts of Appeals or circuit courts are the intermediate appellate courts of the United States federal court system. The list includes both "active" and "senior" judges, both of whom hear and decide cases.

Of the thirteen US courts of appeals, twelve are divided into geographical jurisdictions. Of those twelve, eleven are designated numerically, while the other is the District of Columbia Circuit. The thirteenth is the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit which has nationwide jurisdiction over appeals of certain, specific subject matter, for example, patent law.

Congress has authorized 179 judgeships, though the total number of judges will be higher than 179 because of some judges electing senior status. Only active, non-senior-status judges may fill one of the 179 authorized judgeships., there are five nominations awaiting Senate action along with five vacancies.

Per the practice of visiting judges, sometimes appeals courts cases are heard and decided by active, senior, or retired judges from the US district courts, US courts of appeals, or US Supreme Court, for cases either within or outside of their assigned geographical jurisdiction. While some judges with senior status are inactive, these judges are not yet retired and may return to actively hearing cases at any time.