judge-made

American  

[juhj-meyd] / ˈdʒʌdʒˌmeɪd /

adjective

1. established by a court, as by an application or interpretation of a law that is allegedly contrary to the intentions of the enacting body or by a decision that does not rest on legislation.

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judge-made British  

adjective

1. based on a judge's interpretation or decision (esp in the phrase judge-made law )

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Example Sentences

Thus, unlike most of tort law, wrongful death cases depend on statutory interpretation rather than on judge-made, common law evolution.

From Slate • Feb. 21, 2024

O’Scannlain wrote that the September decision was an “inventive, judge-made novelty.”

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 6, 2023

Tortious interference is judge-made law intended primarily for business disputes.

From Washington Times • Feb. 24, 2021

The century-old Sherman and Clayton acts are remarkably spare and concise statutes, which has meant that most antitrust law has been judge-made, based on the precedents laid down in individual cases.

From Washington Post • Dec. 18, 2020

For legislation seems to be considered a democratic idea; "judge-made law" to be thought aristocratic.

From Popular Law-making by Stimson, Frederic Jesup