Federal Appellate Court Trends and Stats

This week, I attended the Seventh Circuit Bench and Bar Conference. Among the many subjects broached was the number of appeals heard by the federal circuit courts. One interesting trend was the number of pro se appeals. Nationally, approximately 49% of federal appeals involve pro se litigants. In the Seventh Circuit, that figure is even higher. As for oral arguments, the Seventh Circuit had 424 cases argued in 2024. This was the fourth highest among the twelve federal circuits. The Seventh Circuit was also the fourth highest in terms of the number of cases published. The Court published 31% of its cases in 2024, cementing its outsized influence in the federal reporters.

About the Author

Christopher Keleher clerked for the Hon. William J. Bauer of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. This unique opportunity provided Mr. Keleher with an invaluable understanding of the inner workings of an appellate court. He saw what persuades judges and what does not, and utilizes this knowledge every time he writes an appellate brief. The Keleher Appellate Law Group handles all phases of appellate litigation in federal and state courts across the country. Read more here.