Civic Education and Outreach

Welcome to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit’s page on civic education and outreach.  These resources are to help familiarize you with the federal judiciary, our government, and the unique aspects of the Federal Circuit.  The Federal Circuit has nationwide jurisdiction in a variety of subject areas, unlike the other twelve circuit courts of appeals.  This webpage will also give you a glimpse into our historic homes and surrounding areas.  We hope you enjoy these resources.

Federal Judiciary

• Annual Observances (external)
• Educational Activities (external)
• Supreme Court Landmarks (external)
• Supreme Court Activities (external)
• Learn about the U.S. Court of Appeals (external)
• Pathways to the Bench: A video series in which individual judges talk about the personal, character-building challenges they have faced that prepared them to serve on the bench. (external)
• Federal Courts Civics Education Videos (external)

The United States Constitution

• Interactive Constitution (external)
• America’s Founding Documents from the National Archives (external)
• Educator Professional Development Workshops (external)

Teaching Famous Federal Cases

• Federal Judicial Center (external)
• Justice for All – Second Circuit (external)

Intellectual Property and STEM

• The Patent Process: An Overview for Jurors: This brief video provides jurors in a patent case an explanation of what a patent is and the process for obtaining it. (external)
• Intellectual Property Owners Education Foundation: Intellectual Property basics and curriculum for middle school, high school and undergraduate level lessons. (external)
• U.S. Patent and Trademark Office: Videos, Activities, Trivia, and Curriculum for inspiring innovation and encouraging interest in STEM. (external)
• U.S. Copyright Office Learning Engine Video Series: Video series that introduces copyright concepts. (external)

Additional Compilations of Teaching Materials

• Center for Civic Education: Lesson plans, resource materials, and professional development opportunities (external)
• Civic Online Reasoning: Lessons for teaching critical thinking when evaluating online sources (external)
• Constitute: Bringing the World’s Constitutions to the Classroom (external)
• Comparative Constitutions Project (external)
• ABA Teacher Portal: law-related resources and programs for educators and students to promote understanding of law and its vital role in our society. (external)

Learn about the Government

• Ben’s Guide to the U.S. Government (external)
• iCivics (external)

Learn about the Federal Judiciary

• Pathways to the Bench: A video series in which individual judges talk about the personal,
  character-building challenges they have faced that prepared them to serve on the bench. (external)
• Learn about the U.S. Court of Appeals (external)

Learn about the Constitution

• Constitution Annotated (external)
• Interactive Constitution (external)
• National Constitution Center (external)

Learn about Intellectual Property

• Learn about IP for Kids (external)
• Learn about IP for Teens (external)

History of the Homes

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit was established under Article III of the Constitution on October 1, 1982.  The court was formed by the merger of the U.S. Court of Customs and Patent Appeals and the appellate division of the U.S. Court of Claims.  The court is located in the Howard T. Markey National Courts Building on historic Lafayette Square in Washington, D.C.

In 1962, First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy and President John F. Kennedy approved a restoration plan of Lafayette Square that preserved the historic homes that make up the court.  Previous versions planned to demolish the homes to make way for government buildings.  The Kennedys insisted the homes remain and be incorporated into the renovation.

Click on the brochures below to learn more about these homes and their famous residents.

• Dolley Madison’s House
• Cosmos Club
• Benjamin Tayloe’s House

As part of its nationwide jurisdiction and statutory requirement to provide “reasonable opportunities to citizens to appear before the court,” the Federal Circuit regularly hears arguments outside of Washington, D.C.  28 U.S.C. § 48(d).  The Federal Circuit has held sessions in Chicago, Illinois; New York City, New York; Los Angeles, California; Boston, Massachusetts; Baltimore, Maryland; Minneapolis, Minnesota; Dallas Fort Worth, Texas; Wilmington, Delaware; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; and Atlanta, Georgia.

For additional information, please contact the Circuit Executive’s Office at 202-275-8020