circuit split

noun

In United States federal courts, the situation where two or more circuit courts provide conflicting rulings on the same legal issue.

“The existence of a circuit split is one of the factors that the Supreme Court considers when deciding whether to grant review of a case.”

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Meanings

nouncircuit split (plural circuit splits)

plural circuit splits

  1. lawIn United States federal courts, the situation where two or more circuit courts provide conflicting rulings on the same legal issue.

    The existence of a circuit split is one of the factors that the Supreme Court considers when deciding whether to grant review of a case.

Cite this entry
APA

circuit split. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/circuit%20split

MLA

“circuit split.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/circuit%20split. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “circuit split,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/circuit%20split.

Source: circuit split on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.