1920: Circuit Courts Mar 18, 2020

Originally, America had 9 circuit courts, and it has 9 Supreme Court justices. It has since added more districts (specifically, 2 regional districts, DC, and federal), but still are usually overseen by a Supreme Court justice. The reasons have changed, but originally the ‘circuit’ referred to the fact that being a Supreme Court justice was a part-time job, and during the warmer months would travel around their districts in an actual circuit to hear cases, generally appellate ones.  Other countries, namely in Britain and Ireland, have had similar practices, and still may use this term even though there isn’t a circuit to travel. As it happens, 'circus' also comes from this root, and practice. 

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