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REPUBLIC OF IRELAND

See Also: Circuit Court (Ireland)



In the Republic Of Ireland a "circuit court" is part of the ''Courts of First Instance'', which replaced the Assize Court used before the Irish Free State reformed the justice system. The circuit court system includes a judge and jury system, but is not allowed to hear, among others, murder, treason or rape cases. The civil jurisdiction of the court is limited to damages of €38,092 and actions involving land with a ratable value of less than €254 (Land value worth approx. €3 million).


UNITED STATES



Federal courts


The United States Circuit Court s were United States Federal Courts established in each Federal Judicial District . These circuit courts exercised both Original (first instance) and Appellate Jurisdiction . They existed from 1789 to 1912 . The original jurisdiction formerly exercised by the United States circuit courts is now exercised by the United States District Court s, and their appellate jurisdiction is now exercised by the United States Courts Of Appeals .

The name "circuit court" is also informally used to refer to the existing United States Court Of Appeals . Those courts were officially known as ''United States circuit courts of appeals'' from their establishment in 1894 until their name was changed to ''United States courts of appeals'' in 1947 .


State courts


In some U.S. State s, including Illinois , Oregon , and many of the southern states, the State Court of Superior general Original Jurisdiction is known as the "circuit court".

In Virginia , for example, a circuit court is a Court Of Record that has appellate jurisdiction over a county's General District Court and Juvenile And Domestic Relations Court and original jurisdiction over major civil cases and all the county's Felony cases. A circuit court has power to issue Death Sentence s and empanel Grand Juries . The court's decisions become legal Precedent s.

In many states, such as Missouri , a judicial circuit can encompass one or more Counties . Each circuit court can have several divisions, including circuit, associate, Small Claims , Probate , family or drug court. Each division hears cases within its particular area of Subject-matter Jurisdiction , and jurisdiction is based on the size or type of a civil claim, or the severity or type of a criminal charge. Drug Court , for example, hears only drug-related criminal cases.


ENGLAND AND WALES

England and Wales is divided into six regions or ''Circuits'' for the purposes of the administration of justice.
  • Northern Circuit

  • North Eastern Circuit

  • Wales and Chester Circuit

  • Midland Circuit

  • Western Circuit

  • South Eastern Circuit http://www.barcouncil.org.uk/about/circuits/.


The system is overseen by the Lord Chancellor . The membership consists of High Court Judges, Circuit Judges, District Judges, law practitioners and academic lawyers. The Circuits also form the basis for administration of the Bar in England and Wales. The Circuit Bars are represented on the Bar Council through the Circuit Leaders. http://www.barcouncil.org.uk/about/circuits/.


Western Circuit

The Western Circuit is geographically the largest circuit. It covers an area from just west of Guildford to the tip of Cornwall. The Wine Treasurer is a traditional title for the person in charge of social arrangements.

The circuit office is run by the circuit secretary in Winchester . A newsletter is published each term.

The Circuit has published three books, ''Pie Powder''; ''Circuit Ghosts''; and ''Recollections of the Western Circuit''


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