Final answer:
The courts of appeals may convene an en banc session, which includes all judges of the court, to hear a case with a majority vote. These courts are crucial in the federal legal system as they review district court rulings and establish precedents that lower courts must follow.
Step-by-step explanation:
The courts of appeals normally utilize rotating three-judge panels, but they may hear a case en banc or before all the judges of the court, with a majority vote. The U.S. Courts of Appeals, or circuit courts, consist of eleven nationwide and two in Washington, DC - the DC circuit and the federal circuit courts. These courts serve as the intermediate appellate courts of the federal system, reviewing the rulings of the trial (district) courts within their jurisdiction. With 179 judges authorized by Congress, these courts maintain consistency and logic throughout the legal system by setting precedents that are binding on lower courts. Cases from these courts can be escalated to the U.S. Supreme Court upon granting a writ of certiorari, which requires the agreement of at least four of the nine justices. The Supreme Court's decisions can reflect a variety of votes, but the majority opinion is the one with which the majority agree, setting the precedent for future cases.