Opinions

Opinions & Orders – November 5, 2026

Late yesterday, the Federal Circuit released three nonprecedential orders dismissing petitions for review of the Merit Systems Protection Board. This morning, the court released one precedential opinion, three nonprecedential opinions, and two Rule 36 summary affirmances.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 As for today’s nonprecedential opinions: one comes in a salary overpayment case appealed from the Court of Federal Claims, and the other two come in cases appealed from the Merit Systems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.  

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Opinions

Opinions & Orders – October 29, 2026

This morning, the Federal Circuit released two nonprecedential opinions and six nonprecedential orders. One opinion comes in a patent case appealed from the Patent Trial and Appeal Board; the other comes in a veterans case appealed from the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims. As for today’s orders: one dismisses an untimely appeal from the Court of Federal Claims; one denies a motion to stay and dismisses a petition seeking review of letters from the Office of Personnel Management regarding an annuity calculation; one dismisses an appeal from the Eastern District of Pennsylvania; two transfer petitions to review decisions of the Merit Systems Protection Board; and one grants an unopposed motion to remand a case to the Merit Systems Protection Board. Here are the introductions.  

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Featured / Petitions / Supreme Court Activity

Recent Supreme Court Activity

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, five new petitions were filed in a patent case, a case arising under the Tucker Act, a case originally arising under the Indian Tucker Act, and two pro se cases; two waivers of the right to respond to petitions were filed in a case involving copyright and government contract claims and a pro se case; two briefs in opposition were filed in patent cases; a reply brief in support of a petition was filed in a patent case; amicus briefs were filed in two patent cases; and the Court denied five petitions. Here are the details.

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Featured / Petitions / Supreme Court Activity

Recent Supreme Court Activity

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, two new petitions were filed in a case raising a question related to appellate procedure and a pro se case; four waivers of the right to respond to petitions were filed in four pro se cases; two briefs in opposition were filed in patent cases raising questions related to inter partes review proceedings; one reply brief in support of a petition was filed in another patent case raising questions related to inter partes review proceedings; one supplemental brief was filed in a pro se case; and one amicus brief was filed in another patent case raising questions related to eligibility. Here are the details.

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Featured / Petitions / Supreme Court Activity

Recent Supreme Court Activity

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 pending petitions, since our last update, three new petitions were filed in a case addressing federal employment law and two pro se cases; waivers of the right to respond to petitions were filed in two other pro se cases; and three amicus briefs were filed in a patent case. Here are the details.

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Opinions

Opinions & Orders – August 27, 2026

Late yesterday, the Federal Circuit released four nonprecedential orders dismissing appeals. This morning, the court released three nonprecedential opinions and four nonprecedential orders. Two of the opinions come in related patent cases appealed from the Patent Trial and Appeal Board involving the same parties, Apple Inc. and Smart Mobile Technologies LLC. The other opinion comes in a veterans case appealed from the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims. As for today’s orders, one dismisses an appeal from the Court of Federal Claims for lack of jurisdiction, one remands a patent case from the District of Delaware following the parties’ settlement, one dismisses appeals from the Patent Trial and Appeal Board by agreement of the parties, and one transfers a Merit Systems Protection Board petition to the Eastern District of Arkansas. Here are the introductions to the opinions as well as links to the orders.

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Opinions

Opinions & Orders – August 3, 2026

This morning, the Federal Circuit released one precedential opinion, two nonprecedential opinions, and one nonprecedential order. The precedential opinion comes in a veterans case appealed from the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims. One of the nonprecedential opinions comes in a patent case appealed from Northern District of California, and the other comes in response to a petition to review a decision of the Merit Systems Protection Board. The nonprecedential order denies a petition for writ of mandamus to the Eastern District of Texas seeking to stay a patent case. Here are the introductions to the opinions and the order.

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Opinions

Opinions & Orders – July 31, 2026

Late yesterday, the Federal Circuit released a nonprecedential order dismissing a petition. This morning the court released three nonprecedential opinions and three nonprecedential orders. One of the nonprecedential opinions comes in a patent case appealed from the Patent Trial and Appeal Board, one comes in a case appealed from the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, and one comes in a patent case appealed from the Northern District of California. The three nonprecedential orders dismiss appeals. Here are the introductions to the opinions as well as links to the dismissals.

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Opinions

Opinions & Orders – July 22, 2026

This morning, the Federal Circuit released four nonprecedential opinions. One comes in a case appealed from the Court of Federal Claims, one comes in response to a petition to review a final decision of the Merit Systems Protection Board, one comes in response to a petition to review an arbitrator’s decision, and one comes in a patent case appealed from the Northern District of Illinois. Here are the introductions to the opinions.

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Opinions

Opinions & Orders – July 16, 2026

Late yesterday, the Federal Circuit released a nonprecedential order vacating a judgment and remanding a case in light of the Supreme Court’s judgment in the case. This morning, the court issued three precedential opinions, four nonprecedential opinions, and one nonprecedential order. One of the precedential opinions comes in a correction of military records case appealed from the Court of Federal Claims; one comes in a copyright case appealed from the Court of Federal Claims; and one comes in a trade case appealed from the Court of International Trade. Of the nonprecedential opinions, ones comes in response to a petition to review a final decision of the Merit Systems Protection Board; one comes in a veterans case appealed from the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims; and two come in patent cases appealed from the Patent Trial and Appeal Board. Today’s order dismisses an appeal. Here are the introductions to the opinions and yesterday’s order as well as a link to the dismissal.

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