Circuit

CIRCUIT - One of several courts in a given jurisdiction. The name of a court of the United States, which has both civil and criminal jurisdiction. In several of the states there are courts which bear this name.

A term formerly applied to the U.S. Courts of Appeal and still used in conjunction with their numerical designation. E.g., 'The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals,' or 'The Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit.'

Certain divisions of the country, appointed for particular judges to visit for the trial of causes, or for the administration of justice.

CIRCUIT RIDER - Traveling judge, in the old american west in particular, who visited various locations to deal with trials and other matters of justice.
   

This entry contains material from Bouvier's Legal Dictionary, a work published in the 1850's.