FedCircuitBlog

Here is a report on recent news and commentary related to the Federal Circuit and its cases. Today we highlight:

• an article authored by former federal judges seeking “to be today’s Paul Revere, alerting citizens to the grave dangers facing the nation”;
• a blog post noting how “[j]udges on the Federal Circuit cite their own prior opinions about twice as often as their colleagues cite those same opinions”; and
• a notice announcing that the Judicial Conference of the United States has approved “inflationary increases to various miscellaneous court fees effective December 1, 2026.”

This afternoon, the Federal Circuit announced limited CM/ECF availability on Saturday, November 14. Here is the full text of the announcement.

Late yesterday, the Federal Circuit released one nonprecedential order granting an agreed motion to dismiss. This morning, the court released six nonprecedential opinions, three Rule 36 summary affirmances, and one nonprecedential order. Four of the opinions come in cases appealed from the Court of Federal Claims: a forfeiture case, an Indian Tucker Act case, a tax refund case, and a case dismissed for lack of jurisdiction; one comes in a restoration rights case appealed from the Merit Systems Protection Board; and the other comes in a veterans case appealed from the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims. Today’s order also grants an agreed motion to dismiss. Here are the introductions to the opinions, along with links to the summary affirmances and the agreed dismissals.  

Here is an update on recent en banc activity at the Federal Circuit in patent cases. Since our last update, one new petition was filed in a case raising a question regarding eligibility. The court also denied two petitions for en banc rehearing in a case raising questions about the doctrine of equivalents and a pro se case raising questions about claim construction. Here are the details.

This morning, the Federal Circuit released one precedential opinion, four nonprecedential opinions, three Rule 36 summary affirmances, and one nonprecedential order. The precedential opinion comes in a veterans case appealed from the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims. As for the nonprecedential opinions: two come in cases appealed from the Merit Systems Protection Board, one involving a whistleblower claim and the other a retirement annuity claim; one comes in a government contract case appealed from the Court of Federal Claims; and one comes in another veterans case appealed from the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims. Today’s order dismisses an appeal from the Patent Trial and Appeal Board. Here are the introductions to the opinions, along with links to the summary affirmances and the dismissal.

On Friday, the Federal Circuit announced inflationary increases to miscellaneous court fees, effective December 1, 2026. Here is the full text of the announcement.

This morning, the Federal Circuit released two nonprecedential opinions. One comes in a severance pay case appealed from the Court of Federal Claims, and the other comes in a veterans case appealed from the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims. Here are the introductions to the opinions.

On Wednesday, the Federal Circuit announced temporary suspension of in-person payments due to courthouse repairs. Here is the full text of the announcement.

Late yesterday, the Federal Circuit released three nonprecedential orders dismissing petitions for review of the Merit Systems Protection Board. This morning, the court released one precedential opinion, three nonprecedential opinions, and two Rule 36 summary affirmances. The precedential opinion comes in a patent case appealed from the Patent Trial and Appeal Board. As for today’s nonprecedential opinions: one comes in a salary overpayment case appealed from the Court of Federal Claims, and the other two come in cases appealed from the Merit Systems Protection Board, one a whistleblower case and the other an employee removal case. Here are the introductions to the opinions, along with links to the dismissals and summary affirmances.  

Here is an update on recent activity at the Supreme Court in cases decided by the Federal Circuit. There are currently no cases pending before the Supreme Court that were previously decided by the Federal Circuit. As for petitions, since our last update, three new petitions were filed in a government contract case and two pro se cases; four waivers of the right to respond to petitions were filed in two government contract cases and two pro se cases; one brief in opposition was filed in a patent case; and a reply brief in support of a petition was filed in a patent case. Here are the details.