Circuit riding
Circuit riding, In the U.S., the act, once undertaken by a judge, of traveling within a judicial district (or circuit) to facilitate the hearing of cases. The practice was largely abandoned with the establishment of permanent courthouses and laws requiring parties to appear before a sitting judge.
This article was most recently revised and updated by Jeannette L. Nolen.
Citation Information
Article Title:
Circuit riding
Website Name:
Encyclopaedia Britannica
Publisher:
Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc.
Date Published:
31 October 2026
Access Date:
November 14, 2026