Legal Definitions - circuit-riding justice

Definition: Circuit-riding justice refers to a justice who travels within a circuit to preside over trials. This term is historically used to describe a U.S. Supreme Court justice who was required to travel within a circuit to preside over trials under the Judiciary Act of 1789. In each of three circuits that then existed, two justices sat with one district judge.

Example: An example of circuit-riding justice is when a U.S. Supreme Court justice travels to different cities within a circuit to hear cases. For instance, in the early days of the United States, the Supreme Court justices would travel on horseback to different parts of the country to hear cases. This allowed people in different regions to have access to the Supreme Court without having to travel to Washington, D.C.

Explanation: Circuit-riding justice was an important part of the early American legal system. It allowed people in different parts of the country to have access to the Supreme Court and ensured that justice was being served across the nation. The term "circuit" refers to a geographical area that includes several states. Justices would travel to different cities within the circuit to hear cases and make decisions. This helped to ensure that the Supreme Court was not just a distant institution in Washington, D.C., but was accessible to people across the country.