Established by Congress in 1981 the US Court of Appeals for the 11th Judicial Circuit has jurisdiction over federal cases originating in the states of Alabama, Florida and Georgia. The Circuit includes nine district courts with each state divided into Northern, Middle and Southern Districts.
This is the busiest federal appellate court in the US with 12 authorised judgeships where three-quarters of the court cases are decided on briefs submitted by the parties while the remaining cases include oral arguments.
Oral arguments are held in the Elbert P. Tuttle US Court of Appeals building in Atlanta, Georgia which are open to the public although they are also held in Florida (Jacksonville and Miami) and Alabama (Montgomery).
The appeal of he Miami Five has been referred to the Miami District Court for the South District of Florida.