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

The human consequences of this judge-made doctrine are staggering.

From Washington Post • Oct. 8, 2021

In overturning the appeals court in 9-0 ruling, Justice Neil M. Gorsuch began by noting that “at least 12 members of the 9th Circuit have objected to this judge-made rule.”

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 13, 2021

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

From Washington Times • Feb. 24, 2021

It is, after all, a judge-made rule, untethered from any statute or constitutional command.

From Slate • Jun. 5, 2019

Some of these laws are of legislative origin; others are judge-made laws, brought out by the exigencies of special cases which came before the courts for determination.

From The Wife of his Youth and Other Stories of the Color Line, and Selected Essays by Chesnutt, Charles W. (Charles Waddell)