<P> The court's original composition of three judges was expanded to five in 1863 . They would consider evidence proffered by claimants and weigh testimony taken by permanent or special commissioners employed by the court, who were dispersed across the United States . One of the first commissioners was Benjamin Harrison of Indiana, who would later become President . If oral argument was requested, the five judges would hear the case en banc . Appeal to the Supreme Court was by right if the amount in dispute was over $3,000 . The growth in government caused by and coinciding with World War I made the system unworkable, as the number of filed cases increased considerably . In 1925, legislation enacted by Congress at the request of the court created a separate trial division of seven commissioners and elevated the five judges to an appellate role . Initially, the trial commissioners would function as special masters in chancery and conduct formal proceedings either at the court's home in Washington, DC, or elsewhere in the United States in a court facility amenable to the parties . The trial procedures evolved to resemble a non-jury civil trial in district court . </P> <P> In 1948, the commissioners were authorized to make recommendations for conclusions of law . The number of commissioners was increased in 1953 to 15 . In 1966, Congress provided that there would be seven appellate judges to be appointed by the President with life tenure . In 1973, the title of the commissioners was changed to trial judge and by 1977, the Court of Claims had 16 trial judges who conducted trials of cases in the first instance . Judgments, which are required to be paid out of appropriations by Congress, were originally paid by individual appropriations passed separately or as part of other appropriations bills . In 1955, Congress provided for a standing appropriation for judgments of $100,000 or less . Finally, in 1977, Congress created a permanent, indefinite appropriation for all judgments awarded by the court . </P> <P> The Federal Courts Improvement Act of 1982 created the modern court . While the appellate division of the Court of Claims was combined with the United States Court of Customs and Patent Appeals to comprise the new United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, the trial division of the Court of Claims became the United States Claims Court (and in 1992, the name was changed to the United States Court of Federal Claims). Appeals from the Court of Federal Claims are taken to the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit and a judgment there is conclusive unless reviewed by the Supreme Court on writ of certiorari . Decisions of the Court of Claims are binding precedent on both its appellate and trial court successors . </P> <P> The court as now constituted consists of 16 judges, appointed by the President and subject to confirmation by the U.S. Senate for terms of 15 years . In addition, judges who have completed their statutory terms of office are authorized to continue to take cases as senior judges of the court . This ongoing tenure serves as a mechanism to ensure judicial impartiality and independence . </P>

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