district

simply a " part " or " portion " of a State, such as has been previously mentioned.

A certain portion of the country, separated from the rest for some special purposes. The United States are divided into judicial districts, in each of which is established a district court, these districts being subdivisions of the circuits (q. v.) They are also divided into election districts, collection districts, etc. District Attorneys of the United States. Officers appointed in each judicial district, whose duty it is to prosecute, in such district, all delinquents, for crimes and offenses cognizable under the authority of the United States, and all civil actions in which the United States shall be concerned, except in the supreme court, in the district in which the court shall be holden.

A certain portion of the country, separated from the rest for some special purpose. The United States is divided into judicial districts, in each of which is established a district court; they are also divided into election districts, collection districts, etc. It may be construed to mean territory; Com. v. Dumbauld, 97 Pa. 305; and in the revenue laws the words "district" and "port" are often used in the same sense; Ayer v. Thacher, 3 Mas. 155, Fed. Cas. No. 684.

One of the portions into which an entire state or country may be divided, for judicial, political or administrative purposes. The United States are divided into judicial districts, in each of which Is established a district court. They are also divided into election districts, collection districts, etc. The circuit or territory within which a person may be compelled to appear. Cowell. Circuit of authority; province. Enc. Lond.

— District attorney. The prosecuting officer of the United States government in each of the federal judicial districts. Also, under the state governments, the prosecuting officer who represents the state in each of its judicial districts. In some states, where the territory is divided, for judicial purposes, into sections called by some other name than "districts," the same officer is denominated "county attorney" or "state's attorney." Smith v. Scranton. 3 C. P. Rep. (Pat) 84; State v. Salge, 2 Nev. 324.

— District clerk. The clerk of a district court of either a slate or the United States.

— District courts. Courts of the United States, each having territorial jurisdiction over a dtstrict, which may include a whole state or only part of it. Each of these courts is presided over by one judge, who must reside within the district. These courts have original jurisdiction over nil admiralty and maritime causes and all proceedings in bankruptcy, and over all penal and criminal matters cognizable under the laws of the United States, exclusive jurisdiction over which is not vested either in the supreme or circuit courts. Also inferior courts of reconi in California, Connecticut, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Minnesota, Nebraska, Nevada, Ohio, and Texas are also called "district courts." Their jurisdiction is for the most part similar to that of county courts, (q. v.)

— District judge. The judge of a United States district court; also, in some states, the judge of a district court of the state.

— District parishes. Ecolesiastical divisions of parishes in England, for ali purposes of worship, and for the celebration of marriages, christenings, church-ings, and burials, formed at the instance of the queen's commissioners for building new churches. See 3 Steph. Comm. 744.

— District registry. By the English judicature act, 1873, § 60, it is provided that to facilitate proceedings in country districts the crown may, from time to time, by order in council, create district registries, and appoint district registrars for the purpose of issuing writs of summons, and for other purposes. Documents sealed in any such district registry shall be received in evidence without further proof, (section 61;) and the district registrars may administer oaths or do other things as provided by rules or a special order of the court, (section 62.) Power, however, is given to a judge to remove proceedings from a district registry to the office of the high court. Section 65. By order in council of 12th of August, 1875, a number of district registries have been established in the places mentioned in that order; and the prothonotaries in Liv-erpooi, Manchester, and Preston, the district registrar of the court of admiralty at Liverpool, and the county court registrars in the other places named, have been appointed district registrars. Wharton. As to "Fire," "Judicial," "Land," "Levee," "Mineral," "Mining," "Road," "School," and "Taxing" districts, see those titles.

One of the portions into which an entire state or country may be divided, for judicial, political, or administrative purposes. The United States are divided into judicial districts, in each of which is established a district court. They are also divided into election districts, collection districts, ete. The cireuit or territory within which a person may be compelled to appear. Cowell. Circuit of authority; province. Jinc. Lond.

A division of territory. 1. Originally, the space within which a lord could coerce and punish — distrain. * The circuit within which a man might be compelled to appear, or the place in which one hath the power of distraining.* 2. A division of a State or Territory for: any purpose whatever: as, coZZech'Jwjdistrict, for the collection of revenue duties}^ongressional district, for the election of representatives in Congress; election district, for purposes of elections, municipal, State, or United States; judicial district, for judicial purposes — with its district court, district judge, district attorney, and district clerk; land district, for regulating sales of public lands; school district, for purposes connected with the public schools; tax district, for the levying and collection of taxes. May designate an area larger or smaller than a county; as, the district from which the jury in a criminal case may be drawn." A " taxing " district is not necessarily a large division of a State's territory, like a county or parish, as, in the act of Congress of June 7, 1862, § 6; it may be any portion of territory solely for the assessment of taxes.' See D, 3; Precinct, District attorney. See Attoenet-Gen- ERAIi. ' Eoorbach v. Lord, 4 Conn. 3 'See 1 Bouvier's Law Diet. 544; 2 Kent, 420, 426. s Dawley v. Alsdorf, 25 Hun, 227 (1881). * [Webster's Diet. 5 [Jacob's Law Diet. 8 State V. Kemp, 34 Minn. 62 (1886).'' District clerk, court, judge. See Courts, United States. District of Columbia. Is neither a State nor a Tei-ritory. Congress is authorized " to exercise exclusive Legislation in all Cases whatsoever over such District (not exceeding ten Miles square) as may, by Cession of particular States, and the Acceptance of Congress, become the Seat of the Government of the United States." i Maryland and Virginia ceded territory on the Potomac, which Congress, by act of July 16, 1790, accepted. In December, 1800, the seat of government was removed from Philadelphia. By the act of July 11, 1846, Congress retroceded the county of Alexandria to Virginia. The District constitutes the county of Washington. A citizen of the District of Columbia Is not a citizen' of a State. 2 The laws in force December 1, 1873, were revised and republished, by direction of Congrecs, in a separate volume known as the Bevised Statutes relating to the District of Columbia.' See Courts, page 384; Lew, 3.

[L. Lat. districtus, districtio, from distringere, to distrain; L. Fr. destresse, from destreindre, to distrain.] In old law. A circuit or territory within which the power of distraining, or other coercive authority might be exercised. See Districtio, Districtus.

In modem law. A portion of territory, (as of a state, county, city or town,) defined by law, within which a certain jurisdiction or authority may be exercised; a civil division of a state or country for judicial or other purposes; any limited extent of territory. By successive extensions of meaning this word has gradually lost its original and peculiar signification, and is now constantly used in ordinary language to denote ang extent of territory for ang purpose. Its oridnal import is sufficiently pointed out by Its etymology; in further illustration of which it may be observed, that the terms district and distress appear to have been at one time used in English law to denote the same thing; the former being formed from the Latin, (districtus,) the latter from the French (d$9tr€S9e) form of the word. Thus it is said in Britton, ** if the vouchee be not within the distress [bailiwick] of the sheriff," <kc., (si celuy garaunt ne wit en la destresse le viseonte, <&c.) Britt. c. 120«