judge shop

American  

[juhj shop] / ˈdʒʌdʒ ˌʃɒp /

Or judge-shop

verb (used without object)

Law.

1. to file a lawsuit in a district where the case will be assigned to a judge who is likely to find in your favor.

   The defense argued that the plaintiff had judge shopped by filing in several jurisdictions.

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Etymology

Origin of judge shop

First recorded in 1965–70

Example Sentences

Because, as we’ve explained in a series of law review articles, the rules for assigning cases there allow plaintiffs to judge shop.

From Slate

In districts that let plaintiffs sue wherever they like, he wrote, “having divisions with only a few assigned judges makes it easy for plaintiffs to judge shop.”

From New York Times

She said Mill has raised “unmeritorious claims of impropriety in an attempt to unfairly judge shop.”

From Washington Times

Brinkley accused Mill’s representatives of trying to “unfairly judge shop.”

From Seattle Times

“After invoking jurisdiction of the New Jersey federal court and filing a motion there, Mr. Ailes decided that he doesn’t like the judge assigned to this case and he illegally is attempting to judge shop by now seeking to move the lawsuit to another jurisdiction,” Carlson’s attorney, Nancy Smith, said in a statement.

From Time