district court

noun

, U.S. Law.

1. (in many states) the court of general jurisdiction.
2. the federal trial court sitting in each district of the United States.

district court

noun

1. (in Scotland) a court of summary jurisdiction held by a stipendiary magistrate or one or more justices of the peace to deal with minor criminal offences
2. in the US
   1. a federal trial court serving a federal judicial district
   2. (in some states) a court having general jurisdiction in a state judicial district
3. (in Australia and New Zealand) a court lower than a high court Former namemagistrates' court

Word History and Origins

Origin of district court¹

An Americanism dating back to 1780–90

Example Sentences

A little over a week later, a Douglas County District Court judge ruled the affidavit in support of the warrant — which was never executed — remain sealed, according to court documents reviewed by The Times.

From Los Angeles Times

District Court in Montana after the Forest Service reported it had dropped more than 1 million gallons of retardant into those exclusion areas from 2012 through 2019.

From Los Angeles Times

Prosecutors asked US District Court Judge Indira Talwani to impose a 16 and a half-year sentence on Teixeira.

From BBC

Both measures faced legal challenges from a conservative legal group, who dropped the fight after the 1st District Court of Appeals ruled last August that the laws did not violate the California Constitution.

From Los Angeles Times

The VA appealed the order to the 9th Circuit in October and requested a stay, writing that “the district court’s sprawling injunction upends VA’s carefully considered judgment about how to pursue” its goal to “fulfill President Lincoln’s promise to care for those who have served in our nation’s military and for their families, caregivers, and survivors.”

From Los Angeles Times