Evarts Act Law and Legal Definition
Evarts Act is an 1891 federal statute that established circuit courts of appeals. Circuit courts of appeals are now known as the U.S. courts of appeals. The Evarts Act of 1891 is named after Senator William M. Evarts, who advocated for the enactment of this Act. The Evarts Act is also known as the Judiciary Act of 1891.
With a view to implementing the legislation of the Evarts Act, Congress formed nine courts, each with one district judge and two circuit judges, to together form the court of appeals system. In the present day, the number of courts of appeals in the U.S. legal system has risen to 13. The new courts have jurisdiction over most appeals of lower court decisions. The Supreme Court could review legal issues that a court of appeals certified to it, and could also review court of appeals decisions by writ of certiorari.
