Federal Appellate Court Stats for 2025

Last week, the federal judiciary released its case statistics for the year 2025. In the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit in Chicago, there was a slight uptick in the numbers of appeals filed from 2024. For 2024, there were 2,456 cases filed, while in 2025, the number was 2,471. This represents a 0.6% increase. While that increase is miniscule, it is notable because it does at least stop the trend of new appeal filings decreasing. Still, since 2006 (besides 2024) only the pandemic-hobbled 2022 had less appeals, with 2,363. As for the oft-asked question of how often does the Seventh Circuit reverse, the judiciary crunched those numbers as well. And for those seeking a reversal, the picture is bleak. For criminal cases, the Seventh Circuit reverses in approximately 8% of cases. For civil cases, the Seventh Circuit reverses in approximately 10% of cases.

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.