Final answer:
The Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit is unique in that it specializes in handling cases involving patent law, which is not a common jurisdiction for the other U.S. courts of appeals.
Step-by-step explanation:
The U.S. courts of appeals and the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit share several similarities but differ primarily in their scope of jurisdiction.
Both courts hear appeals from lower courts, are comprised of multiple judges who sit in panels to review cases, and can address constitutional issues on appeal. However, they vary in that the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit has nationwide jurisdiction and specializes in handling cases involving patent law, among other areas of exclusive federal jurisdiction such as international trade and federal claims.
This specialization in patent law and certain other areas distinguishes the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit from the other U.S. courts of appeals, which typically do not have jurisdiction over these specialized types of cases unless they pertain to issues within their geographic circuits.