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.

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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

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Other Word Forms

• chief justiceship noun

Etymology

Origin of chief justice

First recorded in 1685–95

Example Sentences

Former chief justice Sushila Karki took on the role of interim prime minister and established a commission to investigate the violence.

From Barron's • Mar. 26, 2026

The country's 24 senators will serve as judges while the chief justice of the Supreme Court will sit as the trial's presiding officer.

From BBC • Mar. 24, 2026

It should be noted that the members of the Guardian Council are appointed by the supreme leader and the chief justice, or head of the judiciary, who is also appointed by the supreme leader.

From Salon • Mar. 6, 2026

The chief justice didn’t just mouth platitudes about judicial independence in this case—the court stood up for it, even if it was a day late and a dollar short.

From Slate • Mar. 4, 2026

I remember really only the smallest things—how brightly the sun fell across Barack’s forehead just then, how a respectful hush came over the crowd as the Supreme Court chief justice, John Roberts, began the proceedings.

From "Becoming" by Michelle Obama