The Cu(II) doped MgO system is known to display features indicating behavior intermediate between static and dynamic Jahn−Teller effects at low temperature. The system is interesting as there is a low barrier between equivalent Jahn−Teller distortions in the cubic host lattice. In order to study the geometry of the Cu(II) ion in this system, we have recorded the low temperature magnetic circular dichroism (MCD) and X-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) spectra. The spectra have been interpreted in terms of the Cu(II) centers distorting the host lattice such that the CuO6 center is a tetragonally elongated octahedron.