noun
circuit
A district or division within a court system.
The appeal goes to a court in the federal circuit covering the district.
Etymology
The Latin word names going around. Judges once traveled a regular circuit to hear cases, and the route’s name came to identify the judicial district it served.
More examples
- The judge serves in a neighboring circuit.
- Lawyers compare decisions from different circuits.
- The case raises an issue already considered in another circuit.
Forms
circuit · circuits
Similar words
- district
- A district is another judicial division; its relationship to a circuit depends on the court system.