In 1911, Congress enacted the first Judicial Code, collecting all existing statutes regarding the judiciary then in force, organizing them, and revising some of them. As part of this process, Congress abolished the circuit courts as of January 1, 1912, transferring all of their jurisdiction and pending business to the district courts and establishing the three-tiered court system that exists at present. The judges of the circuit courts continued their service on the U.S. circuit courts of appeals.

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Landmark Legislation: Abolition of U.S. Circuit Courts