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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Petition for writ of certiorari granted; writ issued; circuit court's gag order vacated. The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Arkansas Online, 29 May 2025 At the same time, the court said no judge on the circuit court had asked for a vote on whether to have the full court rehear the appeal. Chris Eudaily, CNBC, 8 May 2025 Then came Saturday’s ruling from the DC circuit court, which stayed Lamberth’s order and ensured further court battles over VOA’s fate. Brian Stelter, CNN Money, 3 May 2025 The lawsuit, filed Monday in Santa Rosa County circuit court, came after a federal judge last month rejected a request by tech-industry groups for an injunction to block the law. Jim Saunders, Sun Sentinel, 22 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for circuit court

Word History

First Known Use

1708, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of circuit court was in 1708

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Cite this Entry

“Circuit court.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/circuit%20court. Accessed 19 Jun. 2025.

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.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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