judiciary

/dʒuˈdɪʃiɛri/

/dʒuˈdɪʃiɛri/

Other forms: judiciaries

The courts and the people who run them — particularly judges — make up the judiciary. Get caught painting graffiti on the courthouse? You just might find yourself facing the judiciary.

Another way to say judiciary is "judicial system." It's where you go with a legal dispute, whether you're divorcing someone, suing someone, or accusing someone of a crime. The Latin root is judicium, or "judgment," which is exactly the job of the judiciary: to sit in judgment of people by interpreting the law and then applying it.

Definitions of judiciary

1. noun

   the system of law courts that administer justice and constitute the judicial branch of government
   synonyms: judicatory, judicature, judicial system

   types:

   Federal Judiciary

   the judiciary of the United States which is responsible for interpreting and enforcing federal laws

   type of:

   scheme, system

   a group of independent but interrelated elements comprising a unified whole
2. noun

   persons who administer justice
   synonyms: bench

   type of:

   administration, brass, establishment, governance, governing body, organisation, organization

   the persons (or committees or departments etc.) who make up a body for the purpose of administering something