In 1855, Congress established the Court of Claims to hear monetary claims against the United States based upon a congressional statute, an executive branch regulation, or a contract with the federal government. The court later became the principal forum for all claims against the United States. The judges of the Court of Claims were appointed to serve during good behavior, but it was not until 1953 that Congress declared the court to have been established under Article III of the Constitution, thereby granting the judges protection against having their salaries diminished. In 1982, Congress abolished the court, transferring its judges and much of its jurisdiction to the newly-established U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.
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