chief justice

American  

[cheef juhs-tis] / ˈtʃif ˈdʒʌs tɪs /

noun

1. Law. the presiding judge of a court having several members.

2. Official Title Chief Justice of the United States.  (initial capital letters) the presiding judge of the U.S. Supreme Court.

---

chief justice British  

noun

1. (in any of several Commonwealth countries) the judge presiding over a supreme court

2. (in the US) the presiding judge of a court composed of a number of members

---

Other Word Forms

• chief justiceship noun

Etymology

Origin of chief justice

First recorded in 1685–95

Example Sentences

Bridget Mary McCormack, former chief justice of the Michigan Supreme Court and now CEO of the American Arbitration Association, thinks her organization’s new AI Arbitrator will settle some disputes better than most humans would.

From The Wall Street Journal

When the lord chief justice of England is killed on Temple grounds, Gabriel is enlisted to identify the murderer.

From The Wall Street Journal

It would be absurd, the future chief justice argued, for the U.S. to prosecute most crimes by foreigners on foreign ships.

From The Wall Street Journal

Earl Warren later became the chief justice of the Supreme Court.

From Los Angeles Times

The FCC's first chief justice and the judges that serve in it will be appointed by the president.

From BBC