SCOTUS case reversal rates (2007 - Present)
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SCOTUS |
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Cases by term |
Judgeships |
Posts: 9 |
Judges: 9 |
Judges |
Chief: John Roberts |
Active: Samuel Alito, Amy Coney Barrett, Neil Gorsuch, Ketanji Brown Jackson, Elena Kagan, Brett Kavanaugh, John Roberts, Sonia Sotomayor, Clarence Thomas |
This page covers cases granted certiorari by the U.S. Supreme Court (SCOTUS) for appellate review in which SCOTUS reversed the lower court's ruling. Original jurisdiction cases cannot be considered affirmed or reversed since SCOTUS is the first and only court that rules in the case.
When the U.S. Supreme Court is asked to review a case, a petition for a writ of certiorari must be filed within 90 days of a lower court’s ruling. Each term, approximately 7,000 to 8,000 new petitions are filed with the U.S. Supreme Court. During its weekly conference—a private meeting of the justices—the court reviews petitions and decides whether or not to grant certiorari. The court accepts and hears arguments in about 80 cases per term and settles 100 or more cases without hearing arguments. Granting certiorari requires affirmative votes from four justices.[1][2]
Reversal rates for October Term 2023-2024
The Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) issued opinions in 62 cases during its October 2023 term. In this count, we included two cases: Carnahan v. Maloney (2023) that was dismissed and Moyle v. United States (2023), that was dismissed as improvidently granted.
SCOTUS reversed 44 lower court decisions (70.97 percent) and affirmed 15 decisions (24 percent). This term's reversal rate was 0.3 percentage points lower than the average rate of reversal since 2007 (71.3 percent). Ten of the October 2023 term cases originated in the Ninth Circuit and Fifth Circuit each, the most from any circuit (including state courts). The Ninth Circuit had five cases reversed and four cases affirmed, and the Fifth Circuit had eight cases reversed and three cases affirmed.
Since 2007, the Sixth Circuit had a reversal rate of 80.7 percent. That is the highest reversal rate, followed by the Ninth Circuit with a 79 percent reversal rate. Of the Article III circuits—the ordinal circuits, the D.C. Circuit, and the Federal Circuit—the court with the lowest rate of overturned decisions is the Fourth Circuit at 62.1 percent.
Data chart
Reversal rates (2007-present)
This page compiles statistics going back to 2007 because that is the earliest year reliable data on cases by circuit is available on SCOTUSblog. If you know of earlier datasets that we could include here, please contact us.
Since 2007, SCOTUS has released opinions in 1,250 cases. Of those, it reversed a lower court decision 891 times (71.3 percent) while affirming a lower court decision 347 times (27.8 percent). In that time period, SCOTUS has decided more cases originating from the Ninth Circuit (243) than from any other circuit. The next-most Article III circuit court is the Fifth Circuit, which had 105 decisions. During that span, SCOTUS overturned a greater number and percentage of cases originating from the Ninth Circuit (192, or 79 percent).
The Supreme Court hears and reaches decisions in an average of 74.3 cases each year. There are a number of major decisions SCOTUS can make—affirm a lower court's ruling, reverse it, affirm in part, and reverse in part. This data only examines when a court affirms or reverses a lower court's decision. The vast majority of SCOTUS cases originate in a lower court—either one of the 13 appeals circuits, state-level courts, or U.S. district courts. Original jurisdiction cases cannot be considered affirmed or reversed since SCOTUS is the first and only court that rules in the case.
Reversal rate charts
Below is the total data ranging from 2007 to the most recent term listed by the court of origination, including U.S district courts and state courts. Information from 2007 to 2021 was compiled from end-of-term data gathered by SCOTUSblog.[3] Information for the October Term 2022 and 2023 were compiled from our Supreme Court cases, October term 2022-2023 and Supreme Court cases, October term 2023-2024 pages, sourced directly from the court.
Data by term
Click on the tabs below to see decision data for each individual term. Terms generally run from the October of that year to the June of the following year. The 2017 term, for example, took place from October 2017 to June 2018. However, in rare cases, the term runs into July. The 2019 term, for example, ran from October 2019 to July 2020.
2023
The court's 2023 term ran from October 2023 to July 2024. It decided 62 cases, reversing a lower court in 44 (71 percent) of them. The Ninth Circuit and Fifth Circuit originated the most cases decided this term (10 each). The Fifth Circuit overturned cases the most times (8). Five circuits—the First (two), Fourth (one), Sixth (three), Seventh (two) and the Federal Circuits (three)—had all their decisions reversed.
SCOTUS decisions by circuit, 2023 | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Court | Decided | Affirmed | Reversed | Percent Reversed |
First Circuit | 2 | 0 | 2 | 100.0% |
Second Circuit | 7 | 1 | 6 | 85.7% |
Third Circuit | 3 | 1 | 2 | 66.7% |
Fourth Circuit | 1 | 0 | 1 | 100.0% |
Fifth Circuit | 10 | 3 | 8 | 80.0% |
Sixth Circuit | 3 | 0 | 3 | 100.0% |
Seventh Circuit | 2 | 0 | 2 | 100.0% |
Eighth Circuit | 4 | 2 | 2 | 50.0% |
Ninth Circuit | 10 | 4 | 5 | 50.0% |
Tenth Circuit | 2 | 1 | 1 | 50.0% |
Eleventh Circuit | 4 | 3 | 1 | 25.0% |
D.C. Circuit | 5 | 0 | 3 | 60.0% |
Federal Circuit | 3 | 0 | 3 | 100.0% |
Armed Forces | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0% |
State Court | 4 | 0 | 4 | 100.0% |
U.S. District Court | 1 | 0 | 1 | 100.0% |
Total | 62 | 15 | 44 | 70.96% |
2022
The court's 2022 term ran from October 2022 to June 2023. It decided 60 cases, reversing a lower court in 42 (70 percent) of them. The Ninth Circuit originated the most cases decided this term (14), and was also the circuit overturned the most times (11). Three circuits—the Fourth (three), Tenth (two), and the D.C. Circuits (one)—had all their decisions reversed.
SCOTUS decisions by circuit, 2022 | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Court | Decided | Affirmed | Reversed | Percent Reversed |
First Circuit | 3 | 1 | 2 | 66.7% |
Second Circuit | 7 | 2 | 5 | 71.4% |
Third Circuit | 2 | 1 | 1 | 50.0% |
Fourth Circuit | 3 | 0 | 3 | 100.0% |
Fifth Circuit | 8 | 1 | 7 | 87.5% |
Sixth Circuit | 4 | 2 | 2 | 50.0% |
Seventh Circuit | 2 | 1 | 1 | 50.0% |
Eighth Circuit | 3 | 1 | 2 | 66.7% |
Ninth Circuit | 14 | 3 | 11 | 78.6% |
Tenth Circuit | 2 | 0 | 2 | 100.0% |
Eleventh Circuit | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0.0% |
D.C. Circuit | 1 | 0 | 1 | 100.0% |
Federal Circuit | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0.0% |
Armed Forces | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% |
State Court | 5 | 1 | 4 | 80.0% |
U.S. District Court | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0.0% |
Total | 60 | 17 | 42 | 70% |
2021
The court's 2021 term ran from October 2021 to June 2022. It decided 66 cases, reversing a lower court in 54 (81.8 percent) of them. The 9th Circuit originated the most cases decided this term (12), and was also the circuit overturned the most times (12). Six circuits—the First (five), Second (five), Third (one), Eighth (two), Ninth (12), and D.C. Circuit (two)—had all their decisions reversed, as did all the state courts.
SCOTUS decisions by circuit, 2021 | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Court | Decided | Affirmed | Reversed | Percent Reversed |
First Circuit | 5 | 0 | 5 | 100.0% |
Second Circuit | 5 | 0 | 5 | 100.0% |
Third Circuit | 1 | 0 | 1 | 100.0% |
Fourth Circuit | 3 | 1 | 2 | 66.7% |
Fifth Circuit | 8 | 1 | 7 | 87.5% |
Sixth Circuit | 7 | 1 | 6 | 85.7% |
Seventh Circuit | 3 | 2 | 1 | 33.3% |
Eighth Circuit | 2 | 0 | 2 | 100.0% |
Ninth Circuit | 12 | 0 | 12 | 100.0% |
Tenth Circuit | 3 | 1 | 2 | 66.7% |
Eleventh Circuit | 4 | 3 | 1 | 25.0% |
D.C. Circuit | 2 | 0 | 2 | 100.0% |
Federal Circuit | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0% |
Armed Forces | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% |
State Court | 5 | 0 | 5 | 100.0% |
U.S. District Court | 4 | 1 | 3 | 75.0% |
Total | 66 | 12 | 54 | 81.8% |
2020
The court's 2020 term ran from October 2020 to July 2021. It decided 69 cases, reversing a lower court in 55 (79.7 percent) of them. The 9th Circuit originated the most cases decided this term (16), and was also the circuit overturned the most times (15). Seven circuits—the First (one), Fourth (three), Sixth (five), Seventh (one), Tenth (three), D.C. Circuit (four), and the Federal Circuit (three)—had all of their decisions reversed.
SCOTUS decisions by circuit, 2020 | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Court | Decided | Affirmed | Reversed | Percent Reversed |
First Circuit | 1 | 0 | 1 | 100.0% |
Second Circuit | 3 | 1 | 2 | 66.7% |
Third Circuit | 6 | 2 | 4 | 66.7% |
Fourth Circuit | 3 | 0 | 3 | 100.0% |
Fifth Circuit | 7 | 2 | 5 | 71.4% |
Sixth Circuit | 5 | 0 | 5 | 100.0% |
Seventh Circuit | 1 | 0 | 1 | 100.0% |
Eighth Circuit | 4 | 1 | 3 | 75.0% |
Ninth Circuit | 16 | 1 | 15 | 93.8% |
Tenth Circuit | 3 | 0 | 3 | 100.0% |
Eleventh Circuit | 5 | 2 | 3 | 60.0% |
D.C. Circuit | 4 | 0 | 4 | 100.0% |
Federal Circuit | 3 | 0 | 3 | 100.0% |
Armed Forces | 1 | 0 | 1 | 100.0% |
State Court | 4 | 3 | 1 | 25.0% |
U.S. District Court | 1 | 0 | 1 | 100.0% |
Total | 69 | 14 | 55 | 79.7% |
2019
The court's 2019 term ran from October 2019 to July 2020. It decided 69 cases, reversing a lower court in 46 (66.7 percent) of them. The Ninth Circuit originated the most cases decided this term (10), and was also the circuit overturned the most times (9). Two circuits, the First and Seventh, had all of their decisions reversed (one decision each).
SCOTUS decisions by circuit, 2019 | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Court | Decided | Affirmed | Reversed | Percent Reversed |
First Circuit | 1 | 0 | 1 | 100.0% |
Second Circuit | 8 | 2 | 6 | 75.0% |
Third Circuit | 4 | 2 | 2 | 50.0% |
Fourth Circuit | 4 | 3 | 1 | 25.0% |
Fifth Circuit | 7 | 1 | 6 | 85.7% |
Sixth Circuit | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0% |
Seventh Circuit | 1 | 0 | 1 | 100.0% |
Eighth Circuit | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0% |
Ninth Circuit | 10 | 1 | 9 | 90.0% |
Tenth Circuit | 4 | 2 | 2 | 58.3% |
Eleventh Circuit | 7 | 3 | 4 | 57.1% |
D.C. Circuit | 4 | 1 | 3 | 62.8% |
Federal Circuit | 4 | 1 | 3 | 75.0% |
Armed Forces | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% |
State Court | 11 | 3 | 8 | 72.7% |
U.S. District Court | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% |
Total | 69 | 23 | 46 | 66.7% |
2018
The court's 2018 term ran from October 2018 to June 2019. It decided 74 cases, reversing a lower court in 47 (63.5 percent) of them. The Ninth Circuit originated the most cases decided this term (14), and was also the circuit overturned the most times (12). One circuit, the Seventh (one), had all of its decisions reversed.
SCOTUS decisions by circuit, 2018 | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Court | Decided | Affirmed | Reversed | Percent Reversed |
First Circuit | 2 | 1 | 1 | 50.0% |
Second Circuit | 5 | 2 | 3 | 60.0% |
Third Circuit | 3 | 1 | 2 | 66.7% |
Fourth Circuit | 4 | 2 | 2 | 50.0% |
Fifth Circuit | 4 | 2 | 2 | 50.0% |
Sixth Circuit | 7 | 4 | 3 | 42.9% |
Seventh Circuit | 1 | 0 | 1 | 100% |
Eighth Circuit | 4 | 1 | 3 | 75.0% |
Ninth Circuit | 14 | 2 | 12 | 85.7% |
Tenth Circuit | 2 | 1 | 1 | 50.0% |
Eleventh Circuit | 7 | 4 | 3 | 42.9% |
D.C. Circuit | 3 | 2 | 1 | 33.3% |
Federal Circuit | 4 | 2 | 2 | 50.0% |
Armed Forces | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% |
State Court | 11 | 2 | 9 | 82.0% |
U.S. District Court | 3 | 1 | 2 | 66.7% |
Total | 74 | 27 | 47 | 63.5% |
2017
The court's 2017 term ran from October 2017 to June 2018. It decided 74 cases, reversing a lower court in 52 (70.3 percent) of them. The Ninth Circuit originated the most cases decided this term (15), and was also the circuit overturned the most times (12). Three circuits, the First (one), Third (three), and Sixth (four), had all of their decisions reversed.
SCOTUS decisions by circuit, 2017 | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Court | Decided | Affirmed | Reversed | Percent Reversed |
First Circuit | 1 | 0 | 1 | 100% |
Second Circuit | 4 | 2 | 2 | 50.0% |
Third Circuit | 3 | 0 | 3 | 100% |
Fourth Circuit | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% |
Fifth Circuit | 4 | 1 | 3 | 75.0% |
Sixth Circuit | 4 | 0 | 4 | 100% |
Seventh Circuit | 7 | 3 | 4 | 57.1% |
Eighth Circuit | 3 | 1 | 2 | 66.7% |
Ninth Circuit | 15 | 3 | 12 | 80.0% |
Tenth Circuit | 3 | 2 | 1 | 33.3% |
Eleventh Circuit | 6 | 1 | 5 | 83.3% |
D.C. Circuit | 5 | 1 | 4 | 80.0% |
Federal Circuit | 3 | 1 | 2 | 66.7% |
Armed Forces | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0% |
State Court | 8 | 2 | 6 | 75.0% |
U.S. District Court | 4 | 1 | 3 | 75.0% |
Total | 74 | 19 | 52 | 70.3% |
2016
The court's 2016 term ran from October 2016 to June 2017. It decided 71 cases, reversing a lower court in 56 (78.9 percent) of them. The Ninth Circuit originated the most cases decided this term (eight), and was also the circuit overturned the most times (seven). Four circuits, the Third (two), Seventh (two), Eighth (two), and Tenth (three), had all of their decisions reversed.
SCOTUS decisions by circuit, 2016 | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Court | Decided | Affirmed | Reversed | Percent Reversed |
First Circuit | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0% |
Second Circuit | 5 | 1 | 4 | 80.0% |
Third Circuit | 2 | 0 | 2 | 100% |
Fourth Circuit | 2 | 1 | 1 | 50.0% |
Fifth Circuit | 4 | 2 | 2 | 50.0% |
Sixth Circuit | 7 | 1 | 6 | 85.7% |
Seventh Circuit | 2 | 0 | 2 | 100% |
Eighth Circuit | 2 | 0 | 2 | 100% |
Ninth Circuit | 8 | 1 | 7 | 87.5% |
Tenth Circuit | 3 | 0 | 3 | 100% |
Eleventh Circuit | 5 | 2 | 3 | 60.0% |
D.C. Circuit | 3 | 1 | 2 | 66.7% |
Federal Circuit | 7 | 1 | 6 | 85.7% |
Armed Forces | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% |
State Court | 17 | 3 | 14 | 82.4% |
U.S. District Court | 3 | 1 | 2 | 66.7% |
Total | 71 | 15 | 56 | 78.9% |
2015
The court's 2015 term ran from October 2015 to June 2016. It decided 87 cases, reversing a lower court in 55 (63.2 percent) of them. The Ninth Circuit originated the most cases decided this term (11), and was also the circuit overturned the most times (eight). The Eleventh Circuit was the only circuit to have all three of its decisions reversed.
SCOTUS decisions by circuit, 2015 | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Court | Decided | Affirmed | Reversed | Percent Reversed |
First Circuit | 3 | 2 | 1 | 33.3% |
Second Circuit | 6 | 4 | 2 | 33.3% |
Third Circuit | 3 | 1 | 2 | 66.7% |
Fourth Circuit | 6 | 3 | 3 | 50.0% |
Fifth Circuit | 9 | 4 | 5 | 55.6% |
Sixth Circuit | 4 | 1 | 3 | 75.0% |
Seventh Circuit | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% |
Eighth Circuit | 6 | 4 | 2 | 33.3% |
Ninth Circuit | 11 | 3 | 8 | 72.7% |
Tenth Circuit | 4 | 1 | 3 | 75.0% |
Eleventh Circuit | 3 | 0 | 3 | 100% |
D.C. Circuit | 4 | 2 | 2 | 50.0% |
Federal Circuit | 4 | 1 | 3 | 75.0% |
Armed Forces | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% |
State Court | 20 | 3 | 17 | 85.0% |
U.S. District Court | 3 | 2 | 1 | 33.3% |
Total | 87 | 31 | 55 | 63.2% |
2014
The court's 2014 term ran from October 2014 to June 2015. It decided 75 cases, reversing a lower court in 53 (70.7 percent) of them. The Ninth Circuit originated the most cases decided this term (16), and was also the circuit overturned the most times (10). Four circuits, the Second (one), Third (three), Seventh (three), and Eleventh (five), had all of their decisions reversed.
SCOTUS decisions by circuit, 2014 | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Court | Decided | Affirmed | Reversed | Percent Reversed |
First Circuit | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0% |
Second Circuit | 1 | 0 | 1 | 100% |
Third Circuit | 3 | 0 | 3 | 100% |
Fourth Circuit | 6 | 3 | 3 | 50.0% |
Fifth Circuit | 8 | 2 | 6 | 75.0% |
Sixth Circuit | 5 | 1 | 4 | 80.0% |
Seventh Circuit | 3 | 0 | 3 | 100% |
Eighth Circuit | 8 | 1 | 7 | 87.5% |
Ninth Circuit | 16 | 6 | 10 | 62.5% |
Tenth Circuit | 4 | 1 | 3 | 75.0% |
Eleventh Circuit | 5 | 0 | 5 | 100% |
D.C. Circuit | 4 | 1 | 3 | 75.0% |
Federal Circuit | 3 | 1 | 2 | 66.7% |
Armed Forces | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% |
State Court | 5 | 3 | 2 | 40.0% |
U.S. District Court | 2 | 1 | 1 | 50.0% |
Total | 75 | 21 | 53 | 70.7% |
2013
The court's 2013 term ran from October 2013 to June 2014. It decided 75 cases, reversing a lower court in 55 (73.3 percent) of them. The Ninth Circuit originated the most cases decided this term (12), and was also the circuit overturned the most times (11). Two circuits, the Third (two) and Eighth (two), had all of their decisions reversed.
SCOTUS decisions by circuit, 2013 | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Court | Decided | Affirmed | Reversed | Percent Reversed |
First Circuit | 4 | 1 | 3 | 75.0% |
Second Circuit | 5 | 3 | 2 | 40.0% |
Third Circuit | 2 | 0 | 2 | 100% |
Fourth Circuit | 2 | 1 | 1 | 50.0% |
Fifth Circuit | 7 | 1 | 6 | 85.7% |
Sixth Circuit | 11 | 2 | 9 | 81.8% |
Seventh Circuit | 4 | 3 | 1 | 25.0% |
Eighth Circuit | 2 | 0 | 2 | 100% |
Ninth Circuit | 12 | 1 | 11 | 91.7% |
Tenth Circuit | 4 | 2 | 2 | 50.0% |
Eleventh Circuit | 3 | 1 | 2 | 66.7% |
D.C. Circuit | 4 | 2 | 2 | 50.0% |
Federal Circuit | 6 | 1 | 5 | 83.3% |
Armed Forces | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% |
State Court | 8 | 2 | 6 | 75.0% |
U.S. District Court | 1 | 0 | 1 | 100% |
Total | 75 | 20 | 55 | 73.3% |
2012
The court's 2012 term ran from October 2012 to June 2013. It decided 78 cases, reversing a lower court in 56 (71.8 percent) of them. The Ninth Circuit originated the most cases decided this term (14), and was also the circuit overturned the most times (12). Four circuits, the First (one), Sixth (two), Eighth (two), and Eleventh (six), had all of their decisions reversed.
SCOTUS decisions by circuit, 2012 | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Court | Decided | Affirmed | Reversed | Percent Reversed |
First Circuit | 1 | 0 | 1 | 100% |
Second Circuit | 10 | 4 | 6 | 60.0% |
Third Circuit | 6 | 1 | 5 | 83.3% |
Fourth Circuit | 5 | 2 | 3 | 60.0% |
Fifth Circuit | 7 | 1 | 6 | 85.7% |
Sixth Circuit | 2 | 0 | 2 | 100% |
Seventh Circuit | 3 | 2 | 1 | 33.3% |
Eighth Circuit | 2 | 0 | 2 | 100% |
Ninth Circuit | 14 | 2 | 12 | 85.7% |
Tenth Circuit | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0% |
Eleventh Circuit | 6 | 0 | 6 | 100% |
D.C. Circuit | 3 | 1 | 2 | 66.7% |
Federal Circuit | 5 | 2 | 3 | 60.0% |
Armed Forces | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% |
State Court | 12 | 5 | 7 | 58.3% |
U.S. District Court | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% |
Total | 78 | 22 | 56 | 71.8% |
2011
The court's 2011 term ran from October 2011 to June 2012. It decided 75 cases, reversing a lower court in 47 (62.7 percent) of them. The Ninth Circuit originated the most cases decided this term (24), and was also the circuit overturned the most times (17). Two circuits, the Second (two) and Sixth (five), had all of their decisions reversed.
SCOTUS decisions by circuit, 2011 | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Court | Decided | Affirmed | Reversed | Percent Reversed |
First Circuit | 2 | 1 | 1 | 50.0% |
Second Circuit | 2 | 0 | 2 | 100% |
Third Circuit | 7 | 3 | 4 | 57.1% |
Fourth Circuit | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0% |
Fifth Circuit | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0% |
Sixth Circuit | 5 | 0 | 5 | 100% |
Seventh Circuit | 3 | 1 | 2 | 66.7% |
Eighth Circuit | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% |
Ninth Circuit | 24 | 7 | 17 | 70.8% |
Tenth Circuit | 4 | 2 | 2 | 50.0% |
Eleventh Circuit | 4 | 1 | 3 | 75.0% |
D.C. Circuit | 4 | 3 | 1 | 25.0% |
Federal Circuit | 3 | 1 | 2 | 66.7% |
Armed Forces | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% |
State Court | 11 | 4 | 7 | 63.6% |
U.S. District Court | 1 | 0 | 1 | 100% |
Total | 75 | 28 | 47 | 62.7% |
2010
The court's 2010 term ran from October 2010 to June 2011. It decided 82 cases, reversing a lower court in 57 (69.5 percent) of them. The Ninth Circuit originated the most cases decided this term (26), and was also the circuit overturned the most times (19). No circuit had all of its decisions reversed this term.
SCOTUS decisions by circuit, 2010 | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Court | Decided | Affirmed | Reversed | Percent Reversed |
First Circuit | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0% |
Second Circuit | 4 | 1 | 3 | 75.0% |
Third Circuit | 5 | 2 | 3 | 60.0% |
Fourth Circuit | 4 | 2 | 2 | 50.0% |
Fifth Circuit | 5 | 1 | 4 | 80.0% |
Sixth Circuit | 6 | 1 | 5 | 83.3% |
Seventh Circuit | 5 | 2 | 3 | 60.0% |
Eighth Circuit | 4 | 1 | 3 | 75.0% |
Ninth Circuit | 26 | 7 | 19 | 73.1% |
Tenth Circuit | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% |
Eleventh Circuit | 3 | 1 | 2 | 66.7% |
D.C. Circuit | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% |
Federal Circuit | 7 | 3 | 4 | 57.1% |
Armed Forces | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% |
State Court | 9 | 0 | 9 | 100% |
U.S. District Court | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0% |
Total | 82 | 24 | 57 | 69.5% |
2009
The court's 2009 term ran from October 2009 to June 2010. It decided 83 cases, reversing a lower court in 59 (71.1 percent) of them. The Ninth Circuit originated the most cases decided this term (15) and was overturned the most times (11). The Fifth Circuit (four), Sixth Circuit (seven), Eighth Circuit (three), and D.C. Circuit (three) were the circuits to have all of their decisions reversed.
SCOTUS decisions by circuit, 2009 | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Court | Decided | Affirmed | Reversed | Percent Reversed |
First Circuit | 2 | 1 | 1 | 50.0% |
Second Circuit | 7 | 1 | 6 | 85.7% |
Third Circuit | 5 | 3 | 2 | 40.0% |
Fourth Circuit | 5 | 1 | 4 | 80.0% |
Fifth Circuit | 4 | 0 | 4 | 100% |
Sixth Circuit | 7 | 0 | 7 | 100% |
Seventh Circuit | 11 | 1 | 10 | 90.9% |
Eighth Circuit | 3 | 0 | 3 | 100% |
Ninth Circuit | 15 | 4 | 11 | 73.3% |
Tenth Circuit | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0% |
Eleventh Circuit | 10 | 2 | 8 | 80.0% |
D.C. Circuit | 3 | 0 | 3 | 100% |
Federal Circuit | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0% |
Armed Forces | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% |
State Court | 8 | 1 | 7 | 87.5% |
U.S. District Court | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% |
Total | 83 | 17 | 66 | 79.5% |
2008
The court's 2008 term ran from October 2008 to June 2009. It decided 79 cases, reversing a lower court in 60 (76.0 percent) of them. The Ninth Circuit originated the most cases decided this term (16), and was also the circuit overturned the most times (13). Seven circuits had all of their decisions reversed: Fourth (five), Sixth (five), Seventh (one), Eighth (four), Tenth (two), D.C. (one), and Federal (four).
SCOTUS decisions by circuit, 2008 | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Court | Decided | Affirmed | Reversed | Percent Reversed |
First Circuit | 4 | 2 | 2 | 50.0% |
Second Circuit | 9 | 2 | 7 | 77.8% |
Third Circuit | 2 | 1 | 1 | 50.0% |
Fourth Circuit | 5 | 0 | 5 | 100% |
Fifth Circuit | 5 | 2 | 3 | 60.0% |
Sixth Circuit | 5 | 0 | 5 | 100% |
Seventh Circuit | 1 | 0 | 1 | 100% |
Eighth Circuit | 4 | 0 | 4 | 100% |
Ninth Circuit | 16 | 3 | 13 | 81.3% |
Tenth Circuit | 2 | 0 | 2 | 100% |
Eleventh Circuit | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0% |
D.C. Circuit | 1 | 0 | 1 | 100% |
Federal Circuit | 4 | 0 | 4 | 100% |
Armed Forces | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0% |
State Court | 15 | 4 | 11 | 73.3% |
U.S. District Court | 1 | 0 | 1 | 100% |
Total | 79 | 18 | 60 | 76.0% |
2007
The court's 2007 term ran from October 2007 to June 2008. It decided 71 cases, reversing a lower court in 46 (64.8 percent) of them. The Ninth Circuit originated the most cases decided this term (10), and was also the circuit overturned the most times (eight). The Tenth Circuit was the only circuit to have all of its decisions (two) reversed.
SCOTUS decisions by circuit, 2007 | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Court | Decided | Affirmed | Reversed | Percent Reversed |
First Circuit | 2 | 1 | 1 | 50.0% |
Second Circuit | 7 | 5 | 2 | 28.6% |
Third Circuit | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% |
Fourth Circuit | 3 | 1 | 2 | 66.7% |
Fifth Circuit | 5 | 1 | 4 | 80.0% |
Sixth Circuit | 3 | 1 | 2 | 66.7% |
Seventh Circuit | 6 | 5 | 1 | 16.7% |
Eighth Circuit | 4 | 1 | 3 | 75.0% |
Ninth Circuit | 10 | 2 | 8 | 80.0% |
Tenth Circuit | 2 | 0 | 2 | 100% |
Eleventh Circuit | 6 | 2 | 4 | 66.7% |
D.C. Circuit | 5 | 2 | 3 | 60.0% |
Federal Circuit | 4 | 1 | 3 | 75.0% |
Armed Forces | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% |
State Court | 11 | 2 | 9 | 81.8% |
U.S. District Court | 2 | 0 | 2 | 100% |
Total | 71 | 24 | 46 | 64.8% |
The circuits
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See also
Footnotes