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

Chief justice Hossein Fazeli Herikandi said claims in opposition media about her death were "lies".

From Reuters • Oct. 7, 2022

Chief justice John Roberts wrote that “the tests and devices that blocked ballot access have been forbidden nationwide for over 40 years”.

From The Guardian • Aug. 1, 2019

Chief justice John Roberts was joined by the court’s four liberal-leaning justices in writing for the majority.

From The Guardian • Jun. 22, 2018

Chief justice John Roberts wrote: “The way to stop discrimination on the basis of race is to stop discriminating on the basis of race.”

From The Guardian • Sep. 7, 2015

The Chief justice does not directly assert, but plainly assumes as a fact, that the public estimate of the black man is more favorable now than it was in the days of the Revolution.

From Lincoln's Yarns and Stories: a complete collection of the funny and witty anecdotes that made Lincoln famous as America's greatest story teller by McClure, Alexander K. (Alexander Kelly)