En Banc Hearing

An en banc hearing is a session where a large appellate court, usually the entire panel of judges from that court, reviews a case together. This typically happens in federal or state courts when an important or controversial issue needs a full-panel decision, rather than a smaller group of judges. The purpose is to ensure uniformity and clarity in the court’s rulings. En banc hearings are common in courts like the U.S. Courts of Appeals, and they involve extensive discussions and consideration before the court reaches a final judgment on the case.