Legal Definitions - itinerate

To itinerate, in a legal context, means for a judge to travel from one location to another within a designated geographic area, often referred to as a "circuit," for the specific purpose of holding court proceedings.

Here are some examples to illustrate this concept:

• Example 1: Rural Justice System

  In a sparsely populated rural region, Judge Thompson is responsible for presiding over cases across three different counties. Instead of requiring all citizens to travel to a single, central courthouse, Judge Thompson itinerates. She spends the first week of each month holding court in County A, the second week in County B, and the third week in County C. This allows residents in each county to access justice locally without extensive travel, demonstrating how the judge travels on a circuit to fulfill her judicial duties.

• Example 2: Specialized Courts

  The state's new Business and Commercial Court has only a few judges but serves the entire state. To ensure accessibility for businesses in various economic hubs, Judge Lee, a presiding judge for this court, itinerates. He travels to major cities like Springfield, Capital City, and Portside on a rotating schedule throughout the year, setting up temporary courtrooms to hear complex commercial disputes. This approach ensures that specialized legal expertise is brought directly to different business communities.

• Example 3: Appellate Review Panels

  Sometimes, even higher courts might itinerate. For instance, a panel of judges from the regional Court of Appeals might travel to different university towns or major population centers within their jurisdiction to hear oral arguments for appeals. Rather than requiring all attorneys and parties to come to the main appellate courthouse, the judges travel to these satellite locations, making the appellate process more accessible and efficient for those involved.