The circuit courts are particularly important in judicial developments because the Supreme Court grants cert. on so few cases -- the appeals courts are quite often the last word on many federal legal issues for the states in the circuits. Keep in mind that conservative judges have been issuing opinion after opinion challenging the scope and reach of federal power to serve the public interest. This circuit reconfiguration would limit the geographic reach of one of the few circuits bucking the conservative trends. Since most appeals court opinions are decided by three-judge panels, the new split and distribution could trend all three new circuits in the direction of a more conservative judicial philosophy. This development is worth watching for anyone who believes the federal government has an important role to play in serving the public interest.