U.S.C.A.
Abbreviation with 2 meanings
| Stands for | United States Code Annotated |
|---|---|
| Meanings | 2 |
| Categories | Law & Legal |
| Also written | USCA |
U.S.C.A. has two meanings. It stands for United States Code Annotated (legal citation) or United States Court of Appeals (court).
Meanings of U.S.C.A. at a glance
| # | U.S.C.A. stands for | Context |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | United States Code Annotated | Law & Legal › Legal Citation |
| 2 | United States Court of Appeals | Law & Legal › Court |
1. United States Code Annotated
Law & Legal · Legal Citation Abbreviations
Thomson Reuters (West) edition of the federal code that adds case annotations, cross-references to West Key Numbers, and historical and statutory notes under each section. Lawyers use its "notes of decisions" to find cases interpreting a statute.
Example: The notes of decisions in the U.S.C.A. listed more than 200 cases construing the provision.
The Bluebook directs citation to the official U.S.C. when possible; U.S.C.A. is cited when material is not yet in the official code, with the publisher and year, such as "(West 2024)". It is updated through pocket parts and supplements faster than the official edition. Do not confuse it with USCA, the US Court of Appeals.
2. United States Court of Appeals (USCA)
Law & Legal · Court Abbreviations
The intermediate federal appellate courts, organized into 13 circuits: 11 numbered regional circuits, the D.C. Circuit and the Federal Circuit. A USCA reviews final decisions of district courts and certain agency orders, usually through randomly drawn three-judge panels.
Example: Appellant's opening brief was filed in the USCA for the Fifth Circuit on March 3.
Do not confuse it with U.S.C.A., the United States Code Annotated published by West. The Evarts Act of 1891 created these courts as "circuit courts of appeals"; they took their present name in 1948. A circuit's decisions bind district courts only within that circuit.
Related abbreviations
More legal citation abbreviations
- U.L.A. – Uniform Laws Annotated
- U.S. – United States Reports
- U.S. Const. – United States Constitution
- U.S.C. – United States Code
- U.S.C.S. – United States Code Service
- U.S.L.W. – United States Law Week
- v. – Versus
- Vet. App. – Veterans Appeals Reporter
See all 87 legal citation abbreviations →
More court abbreviations
- 10th Cir. – United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit
- 11th Cir. – United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
- 1st Cir. – United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit
- 2d Cir. – United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
- 3d Cir. – United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
- 4th Cir. – United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
- 5th Cir. – United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
- 6th Cir. – United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
See all 87 court abbreviations →
This entry is for general education and is not legal advice. Abbreviation use varies between institutions; always confirm in context.