[1] A defining feature of American federal courts for over a century after the founding of the United States, circuit riding has since been mostly abolished.
Shortly after the ratification of the United States Constitution in 1788, Congress passed the Judiciary Act of 1789, creating the U.S. circuit courts.
[1] Circuit riding in the early United States was often an arduous process, requiring long travel on horseback or carriage over harsh terrain, months-long extended stays away from home, and difficulties in acquiring lodging (Congress did not provide accommodations).
In 1891, Congress passed the Judiciary Act of 1891, creating the United States courts of appeals, which assumed most of the routine functions of the circuit courts, significantly curtailing the need for circuit riding.
The circuit courts continued to exist (in significantly reduced form) until January 1, 1912, when Congress abolished them under the Judicial Code of 1911, eliminating the practice of circuit riding.