judicial review

[joo-dish-uhl ri-vyoo]

noun

1. the power of a court to adjudicate the constitutionality of the laws of a government or the acts of a government official.

judicial review

1. The principle by which courts can declare acts of either the executive branch or the legislative branch unconstitutional. The Supreme Court has exercised this power, for example, to revoke state laws that denied civil rights guaranteed by the Constitution. (See also checks and balances.)

Word History and Origins

Origin of judicial review¹

First recorded in 1920–25

Example Sentences

A judicial review is a type of legal case where a judge reviews the lawfulness of a decision or action made by a public authority.

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They said: "The UK government should now put an end to the planning application once and for all, or face a humiliating judicial review."

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The groups - which include Liberty, Big Brother Watch and the Runnymede Trust - highlighted an ongoing judicial review brought by Shaun Thompson, a black Londoner who says he was wrongly identified by the system and detained.

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In 2019, a judicial review concluded that the Scottish government's investigation into Salmond's alleged misconduct was unlawful, unfair and tainted by apparent bias.

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In 2019, a judicial review had concluded that the process was unlawful, unfair and tainted by apparent bias.

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