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

If it is not, she says she and another campaigner will start judicial review proceedings at the High Court.

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The case took six years to reach trial and involved multiple preliminary hearings and a judicial review.

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It is pursuing a judicial review of the government's decision not to pay compensation.

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Under that standard, laws usually cannot withstand judicial review.

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The Campaign to Protect Rural England's branch in Sussex said it supported Cagne's judicial review claim.

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