In 1982, Congress created the Federal Circuit, the first judicial circuit to be defined by its jurisdiction rather than its geographical boundaries. The new appellate court assumed the appellate jurisdiction of the Court of Claims (which heard monetary claims against the federal government) and the U.S. Court of Customs and Patent Appeals (which heard appeals from the U.S. Customs Court and then its successor, the U.S. Court of International Trade), both of which were abolished, and was granted jurisdiction over appeals from several federal administrative boards.  

See also:

Landmark Legislation: Federal Circuit

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit