Definition
An appeals court level where judges review lower court decisions from multiple districts. Called 'circuit' because judges historically traveled around like it was a legal road trip.
Example Usage
The case was appealed to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.
Origin
From the historical practice of judges traveling in circuits to hear cases across jurisdictions
Fun Fact
The U.S. has 13 federal Circuit Courts, each covering specific geographic regions, and they often contradict each other.
Source: Federal Court System Structure, U.S. Courts Organization
Related Terms
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