forum shopping

Or fo·rum-shop·ping

[fawr-uhm shop-ing]

noun

Law.

1. the act or practice of choosing a jurisdiction in which to file a lawsuit as a way of trying to increase one's chance of winning the case.

   She was accused of forum shopping after she filed her case in a state she was not a resident of, but where defamation laws are stricter.

Word History and Origins

Origin of forum shopping¹

First recorded in 1945–50

Example Sentences

Injunctions are also criticised for enabling what is known as forum shopping - the practice of filing a lawsuit in a jurisdiction where a more favourable ruling is likely.

From BBC

One motion argued filing in the Northern District of Texas venue was a blatant attempt at "forum shopping."

From Salon

So-called forum shopping is nothing new.

From Los Angeles Times

Through 2023, the Biden administration won nearly 41% of its cases despite the rise of “forum shopping” during his term, in which conservatives filed their challenges to Biden policies in rural federal districts with conservative judges, many of them Trump appointees.

From Los Angeles Times

The plan was a classic case of forum shopping, and it has paid off for Scalia and his new client.

From Slate