judiciary
Third governmental branch
The judiciary is the branch of government responsible for interpreting laws and administering justice—the court system collectively.
It stands alongside the executive and legislative branches in democratic governance: The judiciary ruled the law unconstitutional.
Judiciary also works as an adjective meaning related to courts or judges: judiciary proceedings, judiciary reform.
Judicial proceedings chamber
- benchShared seating surface
- gavelSmall ceremonial hammer
- docketCourt's case schedule
- hearingPerceiving sound waves
arraignment · plea · verdict · litigation · plaintiff · defendant · prosecution · defense
Fair treatment under law
- juristLegal expert or scholar
- magistrateCivil judicial officer
- chancellorSenior administrative official
- honorHigh regard, moral dignity
bench · robes · appointment · confirmation · recusal · ruling · opinion · dissent
Philosophy governing legal systems
- precedentPrior authoritative example
- case lawJudge-made legal doctrine
- statuteEnacted written rule
- injunctionCourt-ordered behavioral requirement
appellate · habeas corpus · due process · remedy · jurisdiction · codification · common law · civil law
Just and equal treatment
- equityImpartial treatment or ownership value
- impartialityFreedom from prejudice
- due processGuaranteed judicial fairness
- rule of lawSupremacy of established laws
legitimacy · accountability · redress · remedy · access · equal protection · blind justice · scales
Apex of judicial hierarchy
- appellate courtTribunal reviewing lower decisions
- district courtLower federal judicial body
- family courtTribunal for household legal matters
- federal courtTribunal for national matters
state court · circuit court · high court · tribunal · small claims · juvenile court · constitutional court · sharia court
Constitutional distribution of authority
- checks and balancesConstitutional power-limiting framework
- constitutionInherent physical or structural makeup
- executiveSenior organizational leader
- legislatureLawmaking governmental branch
oversight · federalism · independence · accountability · appointment · confirmation · impeachment
courtroom
Judicial proceedings chamber
hearing · arraignment · plea · verdict · litigation · plaintiff · defendant · prosecution · defense · testimony
justice
Fair treatment under law
- juristLegal expert or scholar
- magistrateCivil judicial officer
- chancellorSenior administrative official
honor · bench · robes · appointment · confirmation · recusal · ruling · opinion · dissent · chambers
jurisprudence
Philosophy governing legal systems
injunction · appellate · habeas corpus · due process · remedy · jurisdiction · codification · common law · civil law · constitutional law
fairness
Just and equal treatment
- equityImpartial treatment or ownership value
- impartialityFreedom from prejudice
- due processGuaranteed judicial fairness
rule of law · legitimacy · accountability · redress · remedy · access · equal protection · blind justice · scales · integrity
supreme court
Apex of judicial hierarchy
- appellate courtTribunal reviewing lower decisions
- district courtLower federal judicial body
- family courtTribunal for household legal matters
federal court · state court · circuit court · high court · tribunal · small claims · juvenile court · constitutional court · sharia court · inquisitorial
separation of powers
Constitutional distribution of authority
- checks and balancesConstitutional power-limiting framework
- constitutionInherent physical or structural makeup
- executiveSenior organizational leader
legislature · oversight · federalism · independence · accountability · appointment · confirmation · impeachment
- political sciencepolitical science, political theory, political behavior, political economy, political institutions
- Islamic Lawsharia, Sharia, Shariah, Islamic law, fatwa
- Kenyan PoliticsNational Assembly, executive, legislature, governors, senators
- African Governmentparliament, legislature, executive, presidency, ministers
- African lawconstitutional court, indigenous law, high court, court of appeal, attorney general
- Latin American politicsCuban Revolution, politicians, Sandinistas, parties, Zapatistas
judiciarylegislature
Lawmaking governmental branch
executive · parliament · executive branch · legislative branch · cabinet
judiciarylitigants
Parties in a lawsuit
prosecution · defense · parties · advocates · bar
judiciarytyranny
Oppressive, absolute governance
despotism · autocracy · mob rule · dictatorship · kangaroo court
- judicial opinionCourt's reasoned legal decision
- judicial branchLaw-interpreting government arm
- judicial systemCourts and their processes
- judicial inquiryCourt-ordered investigation
- judicial procedureMethod courts follow
- judicial robesOfficial courtroom garments
judicial, prejudicial, judicially, extrajudicial, judiciaries, nonjudicial