miscarriage of justice

Idioms  

1. An unfair decision, especially one in a court of law. For example, Many felt that his being expelled from the school was a miscarriage of justice. This expression, which uses miscarriage in the sense of “making a blunder,” was first recorded in 1875.

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Example Sentences

On Friday, his lawyers filed a new appeal, asking the Supreme Court to overturn his conviction in order to "rectify a miscarriage of justice."

From Barron's • May 9, 2026

The courts should step in to stop such a miscarriage of justice.

From Slate • Apr. 20, 2026

John Price KC, prosecuting, told jurors that Malkinson had been "the victim of a most terrible miscarriage of justice, one of the worst there has been".

From BBC • Mar. 4, 2026

The 90-minute film does not claim to be exhaustive, but aims to offer the public the perspectives of both sides of a case that continues to prompt questions and accusations of a miscarriage of justice.

From Barron's • Feb. 4, 2026

To prove her point that she considered the trial a miscarriage of justice, Anthony had three thousand copies of the court transcript printed and distributed across the country to politicians, libraries, and suffrage groups.

From "Votes for Women!" by Winifred Conkling