United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims

• Pages: 70-71

70 U.S. GOVERNMENT MANUAL

SPECIAL COURTS

United States Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces

450 E Street NW., Washington, DC 20442–0001

Phone, 202–761–1448. Fax, 202–761–4672. Internet, http://www.armfor.uscourts.gov.

This court was established under Article

I of the Constitution of the United States

pursuant to act of May 5, 1950, as

amended (10 U.S.C. 867). Subject only

to certiorari review by the Supreme Court

of the United States in a limited number

of cases, the court serves as the f‌i nal

appellate tribunal to review court-martial

convictions of all the Armed Forces. It is

exclusively an appellate criminal court,

consisting of f‌i ve civilian judges who

are appointed for 15-year terms by the

President with the advice and consent of

the Senate.

The court is called upon to exercise

jurisdiction to review the record in all

cases extending to death; certif‌i ed to the

court by a Judge Advocate General of

one of the Armed Forces; or petitioned by

accused who have received a sentence of

conf‌i nement for 1 year or more and/or a

punitive discharge.

The court also exercises authority

under the All Writs Act (28 U.S.C.

1651(a)).

In addition, the judges of the court

are required by law to work jointly

with the senior uniformed lawyer from

each of the Armed Forces and two

members of the public appointed by the

Secretary of Defense to make an annual

comprehensive survey, to report annually

to the Congress on the operation and

progress of the military justice system

under the Uniform Code of Military

Justice, and to recommend improvements

wherever necessary.

For further information, contact the Clerk, United States Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces, 450 E Street

NW., Washington, DC 20442–0001. Phone, 202–761–1448. Fax, 202–761–4672. Internet, http://www.

armfor.uscourts.gov.

United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims

Suite 900, 625 Indiana Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20004–2950

Phone, 202–501–5970. Fax, 202–501–5848. Internet, http://www.uscourts.cavc.gov.

The United States Court of Appeals

for Veterans Claims, a court of record

under Article I of the Constitution, was

established on November 18, 1988

(38 U.S.C. 7251) and given exclusive

jurisdiction to review decisions of the

Board of Veterans’ Appeals. Appeals

concern veteran disability benef‌i ts,

dependent educational assistance,

survivor benef‌i ts, and pension benef‌i ts

claims. In addition to its review authority,

the Court has contempt authority, as well

as the authority to compel action by the

Secretary of Veterans Affairs, the authority

to grant a petition for extraordinary relief

under the All Writs Act (28 U.S.C. 1651),

and the authority to make attorney fee

determinations under the Equal Access to

Justice Act (28 U.S.C. 2412). Decisions of

the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims

are subject to review by the United

States Court of Appeals for the Federal

Circuit on questions of law and on writ of

certiorari by the United States Supreme

Court.

The Court consists of nine judges

appointed by the President, with the

advice and consent of the Senate, for

15-year terms. One of the judges serves

as chief judge.

The Chief Judge generally conducts

a judicial conference every 2 years.

The primary purpose of the conference,

which involves the active participation

of members of the legal community,

attorneys, and practitioners admitted