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

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.

From BBC

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.

From BBC

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

From BBC

But a High Court judge has rejected his attempt to bring a judicial review of the deduction, which was made by the Ministry of Justice.

From BBC

Ms Folbigg was convicted over the deaths of her four babies in 2003, but freed in 2023 after a judicial review of her case found they may have died of a genetic condition.

From BBC