Courts & rulings
U.S. Court of Federal Claims
Article I courtTrial courtAppointed
Hears monetary claims against the federal government (contracts, takings, tax refunds, and more); judges serve 15-year terms. Appeals go to the Federal Circuit.
Money claims against the United States.
Appointed, President nominates, Senate confirms.
Precedent & authority
Part of a specialized track. Its decisions bind within that track; elsewhere they are persuasive only.