circuit court

noun

: a court that sits at two or more places within one judicial district

Examples of circuit court in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

What did Ann Walsh Bradley do before being elected to the Wisconsin Supreme Court? After working in private practice, Walsh Bradley served as a circuit court judge in Marathon County for a decade. —Journal Sentinel, 11 Apr. 2024

She is being sued over the allegations in circuit court, and the Florida Bar has also opened an inquiry. —Joey Flechas, Miami Herald, 11 Apr. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1708, in the meaning defined above

Legal Definition

circuit court

noun

: a court that sits in more than one place in a judicial district: as

a

: a state court usually with original jurisdiction and sometimes with appellate jurisdiction

b

: any of the federal courts of appeals

—not used technically

Note: Before 1948, the U.S. Courts of Appeals were known as Circuit Courts of Appeals.