kangaroo court

American  

noun

1. a self-appointed or mob-operated tribunal that disregards or parodies existing principles of law or human rights, especially one in a frontier area or among criminals in prison.

2. any crudely or irregularly operated court, especially one so controlled as to render a fair trial impossible.

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kangaroo court British  

noun

1. an irregular court, esp one set up by prisoners in a jail or by strikers to judge strikebreakers

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kangaroo court Cultural  

1. A court that ignores principles of justice; a court characterized by incompetence and dishonesty.

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kangaroo court Idioms  

1. A self-appointed tribunal that violates established legal procedure; also, a dishonest or incompetent court of law. For example, The rebels set up a kangaroo court and condemned the prisoners to summary execution, or That judge runs a kangaroo court—he tells rape victims they should have been more careful. This expression is thought to liken the jumping ability of kangaroos to a court that jumps to conclusions on an invalid basis. [Mid-1800s]

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Etymology

Origin of kangaroo court

An Americanism dating back to 1850–55

Example Sentences

It didn’t help that her husband—who’d known Hoxha when the two men were students together in Paris—was found guilty by a kangaroo court of plotting to overthrow the government.

From The Wall Street Journal

"He finished his sentence for God's sake. It was an unfair sentence rendered by a kangaroo court," his mother says.

From BBC

Compensation for sub-postmasters is not being decided by a "kangaroo court", the body overseeing the payouts has said, pushing back against allegations made by Sir Alan Bates.

From BBC

The court was urged to take into consideration that Mr McGregor had posted a series of social media posts after the verdict, in which he described the court as a "kangaroo court".

From BBC

But Brig Kulayigye said the court martial "is not a kangaroo court".

From BBC