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

Since the case was filed, it's worked its way to the Oregon Supreme Court — which sent it back to circuit court for the most consequential parts of the lawsuit to be decided. —Kale Williams, Axios, 16 Jan. 2025

The presiding circuit court judge, William Henry, dismissed Young's company, Nemex, as a plaintiff, because the story never named it. —David Folkenflik, NPR, 5 Jan. 2025

The budget also covers the Health Department, sheriff's office, circuit court divisions, prosecuting attorney, coroner, constables, Office of Emergency Management, museum, Veterans Services and Cooperative Extension. —Eplunus Colvin, arkansasonline.com, 3 Jan. 2025

In exchange for the GOP allowing lower-level district court nominees to receive quicker votes, Senate Democrats will not move forward with confirming four higher-level circuit court picks and saving the positions for Trump to fill. —Ramsey Touchberry, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 21 Nov. 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.