What is the standard of review on appeal?

Questions of law are reviewed fresh; factual findings are reviewed for clear error; discretionary rulings for abuse of discretion. Disagreement with the outcome is not a ground.

How long do I have to appeal?

Federal appeal deadlines are short and jurisdictional - missing one generally ends the appeal regardless of merit. Diarize it the day judgment enters.

First Circuit Court of Appeals - Jurisdiction & Appeals

United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit

The First Circuit hears appeals from the federal district courts of Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Puerto Rico and Rhode Island. It is the smallest circuit by judgeship, and it is the only one with jurisdiction over a territory whose civil law tradition differs from the rest of the system. Appellate review addresses legal error rather than reweighing evidence.

What it does

Hears appeals from the federal district courts within the circuit
Reviews decisions of federal agencies where jurisdiction lies with the circuit
Decides questions of federal law binding on district courts in the circuit

Matters it hears

Civil appeals from district court judgments
Criminal appeals from conviction and sentence
Immigration petitions for review
Federal agency and administrative appeals

Appeals & review

Appeals generally go to Supreme Court of the United States.

Appeal and review deadlines are short and strictly applied. Treat the decision date as the start of a clock.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the standard of review on appeal?: Questions of law are reviewed fresh; factual findings are reviewed for clear error; discretionary rulings for abuse of discretion. Disagreement with the outcome is not a ground.
How long do I have to appeal?: Federal appeal deadlines are short and jurisdictional - missing one generally ends the appeal regardless of merit. Diarize it the day judgment enters.

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General information about jurisdiction and process, not legal advice. LegalCounselNearMe is not a law firm and is not affiliated with United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit. Procedures, forms and fees change — the official site is authoritative.