"The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia (D.C. Circuit), along with twelve other U.S. courts of appeals, form the middle tier of courts in the federal judiciary between the district courts and the Supreme Court. Because of its location in the nation's capital, which is home to a great number of federal agencies charged with the administration of federal policy, the D.C. Circuit has evolved into a court where cases on administrative law predominate. As a result, not only has the D.C. Circuit grown in expertise in the area of administrative law, but it also shapes policy regarding administrative law through its decisions."

"In this new book, political scientist Christopher Banks explains that this unique role evolved largely as a result of the politics of the nation's capital." "Because there are few books on circuit courts and their impact upon national politics and law, Judicial Politics in the D.C. Circuit Court will be a welcome addition to the literature. It is a book for political scientists, legal scholars, and students."--Jacket.