judicial branch

American  

[joo-dish-uhl branch] / dʒuˈdɪʃ əl ˌbræntʃ /

noun

1. the branch of government charged with the interpretation of laws and the administration of justice; the judiciary.

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judicial branch Cultural  

1. The court systems of local, state, and federal governments, responsible for interpreting the laws passed by the legislative branch and enforced by the executive branch. These courts try criminal cases (in which a law may have been violated) or civil cases (disputes between parties over rights or responsibilities). The courts attempt to resolve conflicts impartially in order to protect the individual rights guaranteed by the Constitution, within the bounds of justice, as defined by the entire body of U.S. law. Some courts try only original cases, whereas others act as courts of appeals. The ultimate court of appeals is the Supreme Court. On the federal level, the system of checks and balances empowers Congress to create federal courts, and all federal judges must be appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate. The courts may exercise the powers of judicial review and injunction.

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Etymology

Origin of judicial branch

First recorded in 1780–90

Example Sentences

Presidents have historically stayed away from Supreme Court proceedings to avoid the appearance of interference with the judicial branch.

From Barron's • Apr. 1, 2026

The judicial branch will remain in close communication with the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, the South Carolina State Supreme Court said.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 6, 2025

You’d think the Supreme Court — in particular Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr., the overseer of the judicial branch — would have the lower courts’ backs.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 26, 2025

They argued that the authority to interpret the Constitution was not lodged solely in the judicial branch.

From Salon • Jun. 2, 2025

With that decision, the judicial branch finally lined up definitively with the executive in opposition to segregation.

From Integration of the Armed Forces, 1940-1965 by MacGregor, Morris J.