Court Terms and their Meanings
tribunal – an assembly (including one or more judges) to conduct judicial business
court of justice, court of law, lawcourt, court – a tribunal that is presided over by a magistrate or by one or more judges who administer justice according to the laws
assembly – a group of persons who are gathered together for a common purpose
International Court of Justice, World Court – a court established to settle disputes between members of the United Nations
Bench – the magistrate or judge or judges sitting in court in judicial capacity to compose the court collectively
appeals court, appellate court, court of appeals – a court whose jurisdiction is to review decisions of lower courts or agencies
assizes, court of assize, court of assize and nisi prius – the county courts of England (replaced in 1971 by Crown courts)
chancery, court of chancery – a court with jurisdiction in equity
consistory – a church tribunal or governing body
criminal court – a court having jurisdiction over criminal cases
divorce court – a court having jurisdiction over the termination of marriage contracts
court of domestic relations, domestic relations court, family court – a court in some states in the United States that has jurisdiction over family disputes (especially those involving children)
federal court – a court establish by the authority of a federal government
F.I.S.C., Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court – a secret federal court created in 1978 by the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act; responsible for authorizing wiretaps and other forms of electronic surveillance and for authorizing searches of suspected spies and terrorists by the Department of Justice or United States intelligence agencies.
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inferior court, lower court – any court whose decisions can be appealed to a higher court
Inquisition – a former tribunal of the Roman Catholic Church (1232-1820) created to discover and suppress heresy
juvenile court – a court having jurisdiction over dependent and delinquent children
kangaroo court – an irregular unauthorized court
military court – a judicial court of commissioned officers for the discipline and punishment of military personnel
moot court – a mock court where law students argue hypothetical cases
police court – a court that has power to prosecute for minor offenses and to bind over for trial in a superior court anyone accused of serious offenses
probate court – a court having jurisdiction over the probate of wills and the administration of estates
quarter sessions – a local court with criminal jurisdiction and sometimes administrative functions
Rota – (Roman Catholic Church) the supreme ecclesiastical tribunal for cases appealed to the Holy See from diocesan courts
Star Chamber – a former English court that became notorious for its arbitrary methods and severe punishments
superior court – any court that has jurisdiction above an inferior court
high court, state supreme court, supreme court – the highest court in most states of the United States
traffic court – a court that has power to prosecute for traffic offenses
trial court – the first court before which the facts of a case are decided
jury – a body of citizens sworn to give a true verdict according to the evidence presented in a court of law
