in law, signifies a longer course of proceedings than is needful to recover the thing sued for.

Circuit, also signifies the journey, or progress, which the judge stake twice every year, through the several counties of England and Wales, to hold courts and administer justice, where recourse cannot be had to the king's courts at Westminster: hence England is divided into six circuits, viz. the Home circuit, Norfolk circuit, Midland circuit, Oxford circuit, Western circuit, and Northern circuit.

In Wales there are but two circuits, North and South Wales: two judges are assigned by the king's commission to every circuit.

CIRCUIT court, in Scots law, the judges of the supreme criminal court, or court of judicature, are divided into three separate courts, consisting of two judges each; and the kingdom into as many districts. In certain boroughs of every district, each of these courts by rotation are obliged to hold two courts in the year, in spring and autumn; which are called circuit courts. See SCOTS LAW, Of the supreme judges and courts of Scotland.