Eighth Circuit
US Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit, covering seven Midwest states.
On 21 September, the Eighth Circuit ordered Missouri to use its 2025 congressional map, HB 1, for November before pausing the order for a week, placing the federal appeals court at the centre of a disputed election timetable.
Last refreshed: 24 September 2026 · Appears in 1 active topic
Why did the Eighth Circuit restore Missouri's map instead of the Supreme Court?
Timeline for Eighth Circuit
Ordered Missouri onto the 2025 map, HB 1
US Midterms 2026: 8th Circuit puts Missouri on 2025 mapMentioned in: One justice ends Missouri's map appeal
US Midterms 2026Mentioned in: Federal judge orders HB 1 back into use
US Midterms 2026Background
The Eighth Circuit is a United States federal appeals court covering Arkansas, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota. Seated in St Louis, it reviews appeals arising from federal courts in that region and can determine whether lower-court orders take effect while a case continues.
Its role became especially visible in Missouri's September 2026 map litigation. On 8 September, a related emergency application reached Justice Brett Kavanaugh, the circuit's assigned Supreme Court justice, rather than the full Court.
The same dispute showed the distinction between trial and appellate procedure. A federal district judge issued a restraining order on 8 September, while the Eighth Circuit's involvement concerned the availability and effect of appellate relief.
The court restores HB 1
On 21 September, the Eighth Circuit ordered Missouri to use the 2025 congressional map known as HB 1 for the November election. The ruling placed the Court's authority directly in the election timetable after overseas ballots had already been sent using the 2022 map.
Later on 21 September, the Court paused its own order until 28 September. That pause made the circuit's procedural decisions central to which map Missouri election officials could apply while parties sought further emergency relief.