 Despite the Supreme Court 's desire to resolve conflicts between circuit courts , legal scholars disagree about whether circuit splits are detrimental or beneficial . Some argue that circuit splits are harmful because they create confusion and encourage forum shopping , while other scholars argue that variation among circuits allows local courts to experiment with new laws that reflect the values of local residents . Scholars have also observed that regional variations in different areas of the United States have provided certain circuits with a particular specialization or expertise in some subjects of the law . 
